Pentecost - Moving In The Opposite Spirit (Audio)

Para Vista Lutheran Church

A friend emailed this quote to me recently: “There are so many ways to move forward, but only one to stand still.”

Sinful selfishness will have us standing still, full of hurt and bitterness, wondering why others aren’t more accommodating of us.

The fruit of the Spirit shows us many ways to advance and live free. You can move forward with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Paul also shows us more inventive ways through which we can soar: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all this put-on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:12-15)

This is the work of Holy Spirit in us. We ask him to apply the freedom Jesus won for us on the cross and in his resurrection. And the result? Instead of standing still, we move forward and help others advance with us.

Pastor Peter Steicke

Bible Readings: Galatians 5: 16 - 26 (NSRV)