An Overview of Galatians
By Joe Guagliardo
Galatians 5:13-25
“Do be a do bee, don’t be a don’t be.”
July 8, 2023
In the early part of the 1950s, there was very little on television compared to today. At midnight most television stations would sign off with a rendition of the national anthem, followed by the station signing off, and a picture of an Indian chief would appear on the T.V. with an annoying noise. The stations usually didn’t sign back on till 6 or 7 a.m.
I lived in Chicago when I was young, and there was quite a bit of children’s programming from WGN in Chicago. When I was very young, I watched a television show (In black and white) called Romper Room.
Romper Room used guests, games, music, and cartoons to have fun with children and instill moral values.
One of those recurring characters was Mr. Do Bee, an oversized bumblebee who helped teach the moral lessons (“Do Bee a good sport when you lose”).
(Search IMBD, Romper Room)
Of course, the other side of being a do bee is being a don’t bee, such as being a sore loser, not following rules, or showing proper etiquette.
That brings us to today’s devotion. Paul tells the Galatians to be “Good Bees” and follow the Fruit of the Spirit. He also tells them they will never achieve salvation if they become “Don’t Bees” and give into the acts of the Flesh.
Let’s take a few moments to read today’s lesson from Galatians.
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other.
So, I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the Flesh. For the Flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the Flesh. They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The acts of the Flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the Flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:13-25
Paul begins by telling the Galatians and us that we are free. That is true. We are free because of God’s saving Grace and Jesus’ death and resurrection. Our sins are forgiven, and we no longer need to fear death because Jesus took the sting from it.
We should love one another and not indulge in all life’s pitfalls. What are the pitfalls Paul is speaking of, the acts of the Flesh.
“The acts of the Flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
As you can see, the world pulls at us to live in ways that are ungodly. It’s quite an extensive list, and we’ve all probably encountered them. Perhaps we’ve even acted on them. This is why God sent His Holy Spirit to us in the Sacrament of Baptism. The Holy Spirit is our guide in life and helps deter us from acting on the ways of the Flesh.
Instead, the Holy Spirit gives us the Fruit of the Spirit to enjoy and live by.
“But the Fruit of the Spirit is joy, peace, forbearance, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”
Paul’s comment, “Against such things, there is no law,” is astute. Of course, there can be no law against things that are holy. God gives us His Holy Spirit to guide us in the direction of the Fruits of the Spirit and away from the acts of the Flesh.
If we are followers of Christ, then our sins are nailed to the same cross that Jesus was crucified on. You and I are forgiven, By Grace, through Faith.
Even though the world pulls at us to live a life apart from Christ, let us instead be determined in our pursuit of the Fruit of the Spirit.
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