THE GOOD, BAD, AND THE UGLY

            Discipleship involves the ongoing cultivation of GOOD virtues.  Paul refers to these Christ-like qualities as “the fruit of the Spirit" (Gal.5:22f).  In other passages Paul alters his metaphor to speak of the putting on (Col.3:12) of these godly attributes, so as to be clothed with Christ (Gal.3:27).  However, our walk with Christ requires SUBTRACTION as well as addition.  In Gal.5:19-21, Paul enumerates some ”deeds of the flesh” warning:  those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven.  Included in this list of BAD acts are things like:  immorality, strife, anger, jealousy and envy, drunkenness and carousing, to name a few.  In Col.3:5-10, Paul elaborates further regarding human behavior that stirs up the ire  of God:  impurity, evil desire, greed, malice, slander, abusive speech and lying.

            Let us resolve in this new year to get serious about doing some weeding.  The church has been continually plagued by an influx of carnality. Rather than being transformed by the power of the gospel, we often find ourselves conforming to the ways of the world (Rom.12:1-2).  Works of the flesh are works of the devil, and they must not be given a foothold in our lives.  If left unchecked they become corrosive and cancerous to the body of Christ.  Such wicked ways are UGLY to the eyes of our Father and to the world around us - - they are un-presentable and unacceptable rags worn in a former life that now need to be placed on the burn pile.        

                                                                                                                                          Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ