contrary natures

Sometimes there’s a huge difference between the thing we want to do, and the thing we should. Decisions feel like internal battles - the appetite pulls one way, the conscience pulls the other; the desire burns, and morality quenches. It’s tense.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul describes it as though they’re two different ‘natures’ at work on the inside, constantly opposing each other: the flesh and the spirit, one bringing destruction, the other breathing life. We have a choice about which nature is going to win.


“So I say, live 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.” - Galatians 5:16-18

You get to choose how you want to live today - which appetite you’re going to feed! Why not read all of Galatians 5 and find out what it looks like to live ‘by the spirit’. How’s it done? How can you tell? What does that kind of life produce?

love actually

One of the most misunderstood things about love, is its direction. You know the old saying, ‘love is a verb’. You can feel loved because someone loves you. It’s input-love and it’s a beautiful thing. But giving it away, output-love, has less to do with feelings and more to do with choices and actions. The idea is to serve someone else with love.

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” - Galatians 5:13-14

This is how love goes then. You put the other person ahead of yourself, actively loving them by considering them first, in humility. They love you in the same way and everyone is reminded of what it means to be loved by God.

It’s really simple, isn’t it? We love others because He loved us. The feeling of being loved isn’t love, but what you do with it to love others might be.

So today, don’t tell someone you love them before you’ve shown them, by serving them in humility. We all receive love differently, so why not take some time to ask God how best to love those around you? He knows what He’s doing - He is love, Himself.

joy is so much better

Written into the United States Declaration of Independence is the idea that US citizens should have an ‘inalienable right’ to ‘the pursuit of happiness’.

They call it the American Dream, I think. And it’s true of most western worldviews these days - they say we should pursue whatever makes us happy.

The problem is that ‘happiness’ is a result of what ‘happens’. You can do all you can to organise the world around you to make yourself happy, but you’ll still be dependant on circumstances.

Joy is different. It’s the result of something deep within you. It has nothing to do with external circumstances at all.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...” - Galatians 5:22


Living with the Spirit in you is a bit like being a tree that’s well planted and connected to the water that’s in the soil. You start to produce fruit. And part of that fruit is joy!

Whatever season you find yourself in today, you can produce joy without having to look for happiness. And because it’s in you, no-one can take it from you! So don’t pursue fleeting happiness - it’s nice but it’s overrated; ask God to release deep joy through you, in you, and to you. It’s so much better!

peace doesn't make sense

Anxiety’s awful, isn’t it? The unknown worries of what might happen, what you’ve forgotten, or what somebody thinks about you swirl in your mind and make your heart pound. What we need is peace. Here’s what the Bible says:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7

It transcends all understanding. That means it shows up best where it doesn’t make sense, like the sun in the night or the saviour in the storm. And here, Paul gives us the key as to how that happens; he says: turn it back to prayer.

If anxiety comes from the unknown, what could be better than trusting the One who does know? Living by the Spirit means trusting Him in every situation, knowing that He’s got us covered, that nothing set up to bring us down can ever succeed.

You might be in a situation where you need to bring peace for someone else today. Trust God. You might be feeling nervous or troubled by what the day holds for you. Trust God, present your requests with thanksgiving. And you’ll be able to walk into anything today.

patience updates

“Installing updates. Do not shut down your computer.” My eyes flick up to the ceiling tiles as I silently wonder whether I’m ever going to get to go home from the office. “Installing update 1 of 137...” Er, it seems not.

The Bible says a lot about patience - waiting for God, bearing with each other, learning the art of trust. Have a look at this from Proverbs 14...

“Whoever is patient has great understanding,

    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” - Proverbs 14:29

Patience teaches us to align ourselves with God’s timing. That’s why it takes great understanding - you have to listen to the rhythm of Heaven, and change your own expectations to match.

It’s also great at preventing frustration. I’m sure you know that being ‘quick-tempered’ is a short path to a long regret. Patience helps us understand each other much better, especially when it’s hard to wait.

It’s also wonderful at helping us remember the value of things! When that promised day arrives, when that meal is ready, or that gift is finally presented (or those updates are installed!) those who waited for it, treat it well.

Maybe there are updates to your life you’re waiting for God to install?

Perhaps there’s something exciting ahead? Perhaps there’s a frustrating relationship in your world? Be a person of great understanding, trust God’s timing, keep thankful. It’ll be worth the wait.

kindness and the wisdom of uncle ben

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

So said Spider-Man’s uncle Ben anyway. It’s in a movie, but it is true - the more strength you have, the greater the responsibility you have to help those around you.

Now, we can’t all be Spider-Man, but we can be kind. In fact, Paul treats kindness as a baseline, a foundation for how we consider each other:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” - Ephesians 4:32

The point he’s making is that kindness pays forward - He forgave us, we forgive others, He was compassionate to us; we show compassion to each other. You can’t overdo kindness, especially in sight of God’s irrepressible heart for us. He rewires the order of things so that when we’re tempted to ask ‘what’s in it for me?’ kindness asks ‘what’s in it for you?’ When we hear ourselves say ‘Why should I?’ kindness wonders why I shouldn’t.

So, with great power, let’s find creative ways today to live up to the greatest responsibility, lending our strengths, our finances, our time and our words to those around us. We can’t all be Spider-Man, but we might just make the world a better place, one kind thing at a time.

goodness keeps you ship-shape

C.S. Lewis, in a book called ‘Mere Christianity’ once described morality like a fleet of ships. He argued that as long as each vessel stays seaworthy and avoids drifting or colliding with other ships, the voyage will be a success.

This might be a way to think about the idea of ‘goodness’ and keeping your life ‘upright’. After all, each of us is responsible for our own ship, and our own course.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” - Ephesians 5:8-9

Living by the Spirit is a bit like God giving us a compass. Then, when we read God’s word, He gives us a maintenance manual.

You need both the compass (spirit) and the manual (word) to stay seaworthy and on-course! This might be the key to a life of ‘goodness, righteousness and truth’ then: find out what pleases the Lord! How? Use your compass; read your manual!

Whatever today holds, let’s pray that we reflect his goodness as we navigate the day’s sailing. If you need to course-correct? Watch your compass. If you need to look after your self? Check the manual. You have everything you need onboard today for a life of goodness. The wind is fair and the journey’s awesome. Go for it!