God’s gifts and call are irrevocable. I haven’t written that theme verse out in full for a while, but it’s time. Some of you may have wondered whether I’d ever reach the end of expounding on gifts, but last week’s posts brought me to the close of my Biblical gifts list. To round it off, I’d like to consider the last phrase of Galatians 5:23.
It’s a concise description of All the gifts.
I dare say most of you who read this blog can rattle off all of Galatians 5:22, and almost all of verse 23, but the end of the list of fruits of the Spirit is NOT the end of the verse. There are seven more words: Against such things there is no law. That sentence has a wonderful rhythm. Say it over a few times.
God’s gifts and call are irrevocable. Against such things there is no law. We’re living in an age where new edicts, recommendations, and yes, laws appear to be multiplying left and right. An increasing number of them inconvenience and annoy us. Here’s the thing, though. Laws can be revoked. The gifts? No.
No matter how warped-minded people become, no one denies that patience is a good thing.
They may try to redefine patience to suit the agenda they push, or attempt to prevent clearer-thinking people from expressing patience as it should be, but even the warped ones practice patience to set their plans in motion. If we deal with them impatiently, they become annoyed. It’s where their tolerance ends.
Similar things can be said about each of the other fruits of the Spirit, and all the other gifts. So what will we ponder next? God’s call is also irrevocable. Aside from the gifts of Salvation and Sanctification, which only God can accomplish, and Vengeance, which he reserves for himself, we are called to fulfill the rest. Because God’s gifts and call are irrevocable, and against such things there is no law, we can live in confidence.
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Ruth
Heidi Kortman