Character

This is my kind of restaurant. I like it because it is out of the ordinary; it has character! Someone took a great pride in designing the layout and placing a variety of pictures on the walls. Is that one fine fireplace or what! Even the chairs have arms! The life of a Christian is something like this New England establishment, it takes time to both design and perfect. Read the following passage from Paul's letter to the Galatians and think about your own life.

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
Gal 5:21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. ESV

The first three verses tell us what not to do and the next three show the right way to live. The last one gives exhortation. Nice little sermon! But its more than just words, its a lifestyle. How we live says more than mere words could ever convey. Either our lives have the refined character of heaven or the shady "character" from someplace else. Nothing happens overnight, it takes time to get rid of the first list and grace to gain the second. That's where verse 25 comes in, we can change if we really want to.... try! If you were a restaurant, what kind of character would you want your place to have?