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TODAY’S WORD…

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You were called, as you know, to liberty;

but be careful,

or this liberty will provide an opening for self-indulgence.

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Let me put it like this:

if you are guided by the Spirit

you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence,

since self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit,

the Spirit is totally against such a thing,

and it is precisely because the two are so opposed

that you do not always carry out your good intentions.

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What the Spirit brings is very different:

love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness,

trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.

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Since the Spirit is our life,

let us be directed by the Spirit.

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– Galatians 5:13,16,17,22,23,25 (JB)

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REFLECTION…

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Self-indulgence is defined as

excessive indulgence and lack of restraint when satisfying self;

unwillingness to resist the self-gratification of urges and desires;

selfish, unrestrained indulgence in physical and sensuous pleasures.

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But self-indulgence does not bring true happiness.

In order to be perfectly happy,

we must strive to attain the character, which Christ exhibited;

and the nearer we approach it,

the more will love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness,

trustfulness, gentleness and self-control

reign in our hearts.

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Christ’s beautiful character was one of self-denying benevolence,

and, with the help of the Holy Spirit,

as we go through daily efforts at self-denial,

we can gradually transform our character

and become more like Christ.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Holy Spirit, come, remove my self-indulgence,

take over my life and direct me,

so that I may become more like Jesus.

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