Sins of the Flesh (more than just sexual)

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
         I was reading Galatians 5 and listening to the Spirit living within as the Father teaches. The Holy Spirit opened my eyes and my heart to this:
​         While we are living in a time of turmoil and pain, certain Christian attitudes have fallen by the wayside of even the most devout. Activists are concerning themselves with the color of their skin, their ethnicity, and other matters of the flesh rather than looking at the spiritual ways of things. So Brothers and Sisters who remain in Christ and do not conduct themselves in matters of the flesh should be reminding the fallen Christians of Paul’s words from Galatians 5. I know I have spoken of this section before but it seems relevant that it is seen in all lights.
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
                The color of flesh does not matter when it comes to deeds that are not morally and ethically correct. All tones of the flesh has committed sins not just one. It is not the color but what is inside the persons heart that causes the transgressions. When a group of one flesh tone continues the stereotype and grudge against another, that only causes more hate and distrust. Many different tones have gotten past that while some hold on to past discrepancies. This bitterness and holding of grudges (that has also led to a false idea of entitlement) is not Christians like at all and must stop.
Paul says in verse 15, “  If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Is that what we want, NO. Is that what God wants? Definitely NO.  
               Verses 19-21 speak of the acts of the flesh. “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Do you see it, he is not just talking about sexual desires here. Paul speaks of hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy. Sound familiar???

How much clearer do we have to make it?? Selfish ambition, rage, factions, envy, discord, hatred are all part of the flesh that is not conducive to a life in the Spirit. Those that call themselves Christian and are fighting, protesting, using violence to fight violence, are not following the Golden Rule much less remembering their upbringing in Christ. What happened in the past is the past. Learn from it, do not repeat it. 

​Are we not made in the Image of God. In His image there is no hate, sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, and drunkenness. Is that plain and simple enough???? 

In conclusion I turn to the words recorded to be spoken by Paul. “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”