Thought for the Day - Monday 21 March

Galatians 5:22-23 (New Living Translation) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! This is another interesting portion of scripture and one of the things that never ceases to amaze me is that no matter where you look, whether it be the first book of the old testament right through to the last book of the new testament, you will find rules, guidance, encouragement and so much more to enrich our lives that applies every bit as much today as it did when the words were originally written. Earlier in this chapter, Paul reminds us of how all commandments relating to how we should treat our fellow brothers and sisters were summarised by Jesus as, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’.  He adds ‘If Christians, who should help one another, and rejoice in one another, quarrel, what can be expected but that the God of love should deny his grace, that the Spirit of love should depart, and the evil spirit, who seeks their destruction, should prevail?’  The main message in this chapter is that as soon as we stop loving, sin is given the chance to enter into our lives.  Paul remarks; ‘Happy would it be, if Christians, instead of biting and devouring one another on account of different opinions, would set themselves against sin in themselves, and in the places where they live’. Paul is basically posing the question that if one Christian finds it impossible to love a fellow Christian, how is it then possible for him or her to love non-Christians? Today’s reading outlines all the qualities we should be displaying as Christians and tells us that when we display these qualities, it is a sign that the Holy Spirit is with us and influencing our lives.  The Holy Spirit helps us fight the temptations that life places before us.  If we can be honest with ourselves and reflect on our thoughts and actions, we will know we either need to approach the Lord in our prayers in a spirit of thankfulness or a spirit of repentance. Prayer Heavenly Father, help us aspire to live our lives by displaying all the qualities outlined by Paul in today’s reading.  Help us look for them in our own lives and help us also recognise when they are not there so that we may come to you and ask your forgiveness and ask that you help open our hearts, our minds and our very souls to allow Your Holy Spirit back in and push the evil spirits back from whence they came.   Amen.