A Natural Overflow
READ
In Galatians 5, Paul encourages the believers in Galatia to live in the freedom that Christ offers and not to look back to their old lives and become enslaved to the practices and habits they used to have. And at the end of the chapter, Paul paints a picture of what our former lives might have looked like (selfishness, division, idolatry, envy, and the list goes on), but now, we’re called to a life of freedom.
What does that freedom look like?
Let’s take a moment to read Galatians 5:22-23:
"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."
And he finishes the passage by saying,
“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” (Gal. 5:24-25).
REFLECT
Have you ever read this passage and used it as a measuring stick to see how well you’re doing as a Christian? Or maybe you read the list, and after a few weeks of working really hard, you gave up on trying to be more peaceful or patient, etc? If you read today’s passage and immediately started comparing yourself (or your roommate or spouse) to this list, let me stop you right there.
The point of this passage isn’t to convince us to try to be better Christians. No, the fruit of the Spirit isn't a performance standard; it's the natural overflow of a life connected to Christ.
Paul isn’t giving us a to-do list. If he were, that list would be impossible for any human to accomplish on their own (which is the whole point!)! We cannot conjure up enough goodness to perfectly execute each of the characteristics listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Even the best of us have bad days where we lose our temper and are quick to anger. We all have seasons when our faithfulness wanes, and joy doesn’t come naturally.
But this list isn’t meant to shame us.
Instead, throughout Galatians 5, Paul highlights the difference between a life in bondage to the law and a life rooted in the freedom found in Christ. Instead of giving us a checklist, he’s showing us the key to a life of freedom: Walking with the Spirit. In other words, the fruit of the Spirit is what happens when one is walking in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25).
Let’s take a quick look at what this freedom looks like throughout Galatians 5:
When we live by the Spirit, we experience freedom from our previous passions and desires (Gal. 5:16).
When we live by the Spirit, we’re no longer enslaved by the law (Gal. 5:18)
When we live by the Spirit, we’re called to freedom not just for ourselves, but also for others (Gal. 5:13).
When we live by the Spirit, even though our flesh bends towards grumbling, we choose joy. Where the world encourages us to hate, we choose love. Where indulgence might be our former norm, we now choose self-control — not because we are good Christians, but because we’re connected to the One who died for our ultimate good and freedom. (Gal. 5:22-25)
So if you read the scripture for today and found yourself wanting, take heart, because the point isn’t about perfecting that list — it’s about walking in step with the Spirit and experiencing the freedom that comes from a life connected to Him. The goal isn’t to merely produce good fruit; it’s to stay rooted in the One who produces good fruit in us.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
When you see the list of characteristics in Galatians 5:22-23, do you feel like you need to perform or perfect that list? After our reading today, how has your perspective shifted?
What is one way you can choose to walk in step with the Spirit today? This week? This month?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
God, thank you for the work of the Spirit. Would You remind my wandering heart of Your love whenever I try to live on my own accord or live in bondage to the law? Would You help me to remember that the key to my freedom is not performance, but to walk with You, to live by the Spirit? God, give me the grace to display the fruit of Your Spirit to a dark and weary world, and to participate with You in bringing glimpses of Your goodness, Your redemption, here and now and in the age to come. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Port City writer Brittany Salmon wrote today’s devotional.