Daily Journal: 4 April

Faith Expressing Itself Through Love

Galatians 5:6 (NIV)

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

How do I express my faith through love?

It’s not just a cerebral faith, one decision one time. Faith expressing itself through love is a lifestyle of choices each day, that all say “your way Jesus, not mine”. Faith expressing itself through love is sincere and led by the Spirit of God.

Even when we don’t fully understand, we can fully follow, and appreciate all the opportunities in each day to be directed by the love of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:19-26 (NLT)

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

When I am open to being led by the Spirit of God, my choices reflect His nature rather than my own. Even my internal choices about how I choose to think, or respond to events going on in my life. I express my faith through love when I am in tune with His inclinations of love towards me and for others around me. It’s not always what I think it might be. It’s important to walk gently, carefully, in a state of trust, rest and reliance, so that I can discern His voice. His voice is quiet. It doesn’t shout over the top of my own thoughts or emotions. He waits to be heard.

I pray that as we express our faith through love today, we will put our first response aside and wait for the leading of the Holy Spirit, who will help us in every way that we need.