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PS Note
Paul Sartarelli
March 11
Set Free in Christ
Should you have that extra piece of coconut cream pie? It’s so tempting! With its perfectly flaked crust, lathered in way too much whipped cream, or is it meringue? It’s calling out to you so sweetly and sensuously. You really shouldn’t, but how can you say no?
“Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
What? Are you telling me that if I just rely on the Holy Spirit I won’t go off my diet?
Well, not exactly. The pie embellishment was sort of a metaphor. As humans we are all plagued with inner moral conflicts. We are born with something called a conscience. Informed by moral education and cultural norms, our inner voices more or less try to nag us into being “good.” The influences and instructions that make up our moral fiber can be described as “moral law.” Since it is our human nature to eat the extra piece of pie, our fate is to suffer under a weight of guilt while alternately desiring and not desiring the dessert.
“If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:18).
There you go mentioning the Holy Spirit again.
Right. Christ-followers not only have the moral governor of their conscience, we also have someone much stronger in our souls. The Holy Spirit, stronger not just in wagging his finger at us when we choose poorly, empowers us to will and do the right thing. Something the law and our consciences couldn’t really do.
Okay, so how do we pull off this power and right choices? Enough of this theoretical freedom, how can I truly be set free by Christ?
Glad you asked. First, be sure of your commitment to Christ: “Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (5:24). Have you made a decisive break with your sinful past and stopped flirting with your tempting habits? If not, why not decide today? Second, consistently align yourself with the Spirit: “Keep in step with the Spirit” (5:25). Like a good and wise friend, our direction, our walk should align with God’s, in focus, in thought, in love. Believe he is with you and helping you live rightly from the inside out. And thirdly, are you in community? Are you looking out for someone? And others for you? (Read 6:1-2 for next week.) We were never meant to do this alone!
How’s that pie looking now?
Bottom of the Page
David Fletcher
March 11
Conflict
From time to time, most of us think some "conflict" is the main problem in our lives. Nothing can be further from the truth. The main "problem" is that we often don't deal with conflict.
Conflict is going to happen. Get three people in a room and you will soon have four ideas about how to do something. So, it's not a matter of a difference of opinion, or a fight, or an argument. It is how we deal with the conflict.
The best way to deal with conflict is to use biblical principles to resolve it. Most problems can be resolved! Yes, they really can. And, when we ask God to help us, we have a really strong team! Add into the mix a trained conciliator, a person who can objectively help us see issues and gain perspective, then we have a great starting point for resolution.
I hope that you will choose today to resolve any outstanding issues in your life. Use a trained conciliator. Ask God to guide you. Look for biblical principles. Read The Peacemaker by Ken Sande. There is a way out--it will take some work, some challenging looking at yourself, examining your own contribution to the problem. But it is worth it!
Get some help from The Chapel by contacting Gail Benn our Director of Peacemaking.
Remember, if you "stuff that conflict and try to forget about it, " all you get is a lot of bad memories. Those memories never go away! The only solution for a clean and healthy mind is forgiveness and resolving your conflict in a biblical fashion.
God's best to you!
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