What do you think you can produce on your own?

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Perhaps you’ve heard the old saying that there are three ways to get something done:

1. Do it yourself.

2. Hire someone to do it for you.

3. Forbid your kids to do it.

I think there’s another, better way that we discover in scripture.

As the Apostle Paul writes the last portion of Galatians 5, he basically provides us with a comparison of what we can produce from our lives when we rely on ourselves (rely on the “flesh”) verses what can be produced in and from our lives when we rely on the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out.

Paul first lays the groundwork for the comparison:

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses,” Galatians 5:16-18.

Now for the comparison.

What is it you can expect to produce on your own, from the flesh?

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 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,” Galatians 5:19-21.

That is a “productive” life, but a production of sin!

So what can be produced if we yield to the Holy Spirit, letting the Holy Spirit guide our lives as Paul suggests, and cooperating with Him as He works to transform us from the inside out? Here’s what can be produced:

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23.

What kind of productivity would you prefer your life to produce?

Have you taken Paul’s advice of letting the Holy Spirit guide you?

Scotty