I like this because it helps me stay focused on love and not just the person. When I think of the love God has shown me I can see past my mistakes and faults and know that in Him I can change and that change shows my love for Him. One of our biggest challenge as followers of Christ is forgetting our old self and believing we are new creations and can be fully devoted to Him by surrendering our will. Verse 16 says, "So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves."
When we open our hearts and grow we see how our freedom means something different than we understand as Americans. That freedom we have in Christ calls us to serve others in love. We see our freedom as a benefit to our self but God sees our freedom as a benefit to others. When we are growing and we have others in mind as well we are not concerned only in what happens to us but how what we do can make a difference for the Kingdom of God.
The fifth chapter of Galatians is a great one to read over and over and as we read ask God to open our hearts and let it sink in because it guides us to surrender and be willing to follow the Spirit not lead the Spirit in our lives. When we lead our desires sneak out even when we don't want them to, but when the Spirit leads we see fruit that are there for peoples benefit. Verses 22-23 says, "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." All those qualities will help us as we grow but they will also make us look different than the world and help people see Christ in us. We need to really see Paul's words in verse 25 and realize by praying and following God's word we will live differently. "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives." Remember as Spirit led people our freedom will be in our surrender to ourselves and our serving in love. Amen