Growth From the Spirit

Galatians 3:2-5
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing--if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

We are a foolish breed, aren’t we? It seems that life is a series of lessons learned over and over again. This verse touches on one of the most foundational lessons we learn, and yet we seem to fall down its slippery-slope all too often.

Why is it that we so easily fall prey to the idea that if we can just do this or that, we will suddenly become a better Christian, as though the weight of our growth and maturity is fully upon our shoulders? Legalism can be a deadly game that Satan tries to play with us. He tries to convince us that it’s all in what we do, as Christians – observing the law, as Paul puts it – rather than allowing the emphasis to remain on God, and simply walking in faith.

Of course, walking in faith means that we will obey, and do what God asks us to do, but the focus is very different. Legalism focuses on us and what we do or don’t do. It’s very complicated, really, because the line can be so fuzzy that divides the one side from the other. While faith is simple – difficult, but simple – we must simply keep our focus on God. As we hang out with Him in the many ways afforded us, we will be changed. It’s not about following the rules, it’s about spending time with the Creator of the universe. If we believe Him and all that He tells us, and we allow His Spirit to work in us, then we will be changed. We will begin to behave, and react to situations differently. Not because we’ve done something right, but because our new Best Friend has begun to rub off on us.

So, let’s each make a concerted effort to hang out with God today, all day, and begin to let Him rub off on us. Let’s also remember that change is the job of the Spirit within us, and He can use our mistakes as much as our right choices – God wastes nothing. So let’s stop beating ourselves up over the past, and just start fresh and new today, focusing on the Lover of our souls.