To Be, Or Not To Be

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature desires.”

Galatians 5:16 NLT

If you could hear the tone of Paul’s voice behind these words, you would not like it! The Apostle is upset! Upon arriving back in Antioch from his first missionary journey after 18 months on the road, Paul received a report that the churches he started in Galatia had fallen into error. Apparently, in order to counteract an emphasis on legalism, Christians in Galatia were celebrating their freedom in Christ by living with a devil-may-care attitude about sin. So, like a frustrated parent, the Apostle explains that the one who will be most disappointed in living a life where anything goes…will be each one of them. Since, at the end of the day…or at the end of time…all I really have is Myself.

Several weeks ago, I took my two granddaughters up to our pool for a swim. Because there was another family in the pool I instructed Roux, the 5 year old, “Roux, I want you to stay on this side of the pool.” She asked, “Why?” Her 3 year old sister replied, “It’s cuz of The COVID, Roux!” Wow! Who would’ve thought “I wouldn’t touch him with a 6 foot pole" would become a national policy?! In an unprecedented time of social distancing—when social connectivity is at an all-time low—we find ourselves spending more time than ever before with Me, Myself, and Mine. And as Pastor Jared taught last week, “If you’re going to spend Forever with You, You better really like who You are or it will be hell not heaven.” And that’s the argument that Paul initiates for walking in The Spirit.

The Apostle’s frustration is in knowing that the resurrection of Jesus has opened up a possibility for you and I that the ancient Israelites could only dream about—through the internal work of the Holy Spirit you and I can become the person God had in mind when He created us! As a young boy, my Mom would often say, “Be careful the company you keep! Nothing will determine how happy you are in life more than that.” Since the company we keep is so important…why not start with YOU?!…since You will be with You forever!

Why not begin the process of reclaiming the best about You by starting your day with this prayer: “Holy Spirit, help me to be the best version of Me I can be!”

Pastor Harry Kuehl

‍