Saturday 29 March 2025

Psalm 106:43-48

Background
Where does life find its centre? Paul offers two choices: we can live for God, or live for something that is not God. He used the language of ‘flesh’ and ‘spirit’, but it’s about far more than a banal contrast between ‘body’ and ‘soul’. The ‘works of the flesh’ (verses 19-21) are characterised by an orientation away from God, which creates a lack of respect for one’s own body along with a breakdown of relationships with others and with God. The ‘fruit of the Spirit’ grows from an orientation towards God, who longs to give us everything.

Paul was coming towards the end of his letter to the Galatians, which is composed, like most formal letters of the time, with a closing ‘exhortation’ designed to uplift and encourage his hearers.

Paul taught that for those in Christ, keeping the law is no longer necessary. However, this is very far from teaching that ‘anything goes’. What alternative framework is available to help Christians shape their life and make good decisions in challenging circumstances?  The listing of the fruits of the Holy Spirit clarifies the nature of an authentic Christian life shaped by love. This may well be the reason that Paul set ‘love’ first in his list – all the other qualities flow from it. In describing this way of life, Paul focused both on human lifestyle and on God. Many of the qualities he mentions are attributed to God throughout the Bible. We are urged to live in ways that truly imitate God.

So, said Paul, ‘walk by the Spirit’. 'Walking the Way' was one of the earliest images used for living the Christian life and making particular choices which shape our characters for good. These choices enable us to live in ways that are rich and fulfilling because they draw on the love of God made real in Jesus. They resource life in community, in contrast to the divisive ‘works of the flesh’. The everyday life of ordinary followers of Jesus reveal the Holy Spirit at work. Those who belong to Jesus are people who love God and love their neighbours as themselves.

To Ponder:

• In presenting lists of bad and good behaviour, Paul was drawing on the ethical teaching of his own time, within and beyond the Church, and giving it a Christian focus. What contemporary lifestyle teaching can we draw on to enrich our understanding of the Christian life?
• How far does the gift of the Holy Spirit help you build better relationships with other people?

Prayer
God, breathing upon us, make us open to receiving the inestimable gifts of your Holy Spirit, that we may bear the fruits of it in our lives and our relationships, through Jesus Christ, to do your will. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Caroline Wickens
Caroline Wickens is the Superintendent of the Manchester Circuit. She has taught biblical studies in Africa and the UK, and continues to be fascinated by this amazing book.