Galatians 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

In Galatians chapter 3 Paul tells us that “all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” What does it mean, though, to be clothed with Christ? As we read through the Bible, particularly in the New Testament, we see how we are to imitate Jesus. We are to live like He lived and do what He did.
As Christians our actions ought to be like those of Jesus. Now, to be clear, it is not our actions or works that save us. It is faith in Christ that saves us. Our actions should, however, line up with our salvation. And what should these actions look like? This verse is a great place to start as we answer that question.

Our actions should look like the fruits of the Spirit. We should have Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control showing up in what we do. When we act in accordance with these, there will be no law that can come against us. That doesn't of course mean that the law will be gone, it just won’t have any hold on you.

When you sin and do things contrary to the law it will come against you and punish you according to what you have done. But when you live according to the fruits of the Spirit you will not break the law, because you will be holding yourself to a higher standard. Now the law will not be able to come against you, because you will not have broken it.

As you live your life be careful to watch what kind of fruit you are producing. You ought to be producing fruit that lines up with your salvation. In Christ we are a new creation, the old is gone, the new has come. If the fruit you are producing does not line up with Christ, then you need to take a look at what is inside you and make sure you have given all you are to Jesus.  

2 Corinthians 4:18

2 Corinthians 4:18 - So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

God has been talking to me a lot lately about having an eternal perspective. That is what this verse is talking about as well. There are so many things in our lives that want to steal our time. So many of us are guilty of living from one moment to the next and not budgeting our time as we should. When we do this we end up spending most of our time satisfying our own selfish wants and not doing what God has called us to.
If we are not careful every free moment we have is filled up with things that have no lasting significance such as TV, video games, phones or something like that. Eventually we hit a point where we ask ourselves what it is all worth, and wonder if we have done anything that has lasting significance.
As we look at this verse we see Paul making the statement, “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” He then explains that we do this because what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
How many can honestly say that their focus is completely on the unseen? I try, but more often than not I find myself focusing on the temporary things of this life. To follow this statement we have to transform our way of thinking and figure out what is eternal.
Really, it’s not all that hard to figure out what our focus should be on. Jesus answers that question when He says, “Love God and Love people, in this you will fulfill all the law and commandments.” God is of course eternal, and people are eternal.
If we re-focus our life so that God is our primary focus with people as number two we will be working towards an eternal perspective. This is how we will make a difference that will last. Really, nothing else matters. All the other stuff in our lives should be a means to this end and not our goal.

Acts 21:13

Acts 21:13 - Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

What are you willing to go through for Jesus? Paul was willing to do whatever it took to spread the gospel. The Holy Spirit had told him that when he went to Jerusalem he would be bound and imprisoned. It didn't matter to him, he knew he was supposed to go. His friends, however, were trying to persuade him otherwise. They thought that there had to be another way, but Paul was going to be obedient to God.
If you know that God wanted you to do something and you knew that by doing it persecution was inevitable, would you still do it? Are you willing to face opposition for the gospel? God wants to know that you are willing to go all in for Him.
We must realize that God has called each one of us and it is time for us to answer. Salvation comes free to us, the bible says ‘believe in your heart and confess with your mouth and you will be saved’, but being sold out for Jesus will cost you everything. It will take sacrifice, but it will be worth it.
Anytime you do something for God you are storing up treasures in heaven. If you give something up the bible says you will receive it back with more. As hard as it is we must give ourselves completely over to God, just as Paul did.
When you reach the point of doing whatever it takes for God you will experience true freedom because you will sold out to Christ. Fear will no longer hold you.