Galatians 6:4-5

But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work (examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior), and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another. For every person will have to bear (with patience) his own burden (of faults and shortcomings for which he alone is responsible).

If we want to grow in our spiritual lives, we must examine ourselves, our attitudes, and our behavior toward our families, people, and God. Have we cooled in our spiritual walk and stopped reading the Bible? Do we have a good attitude? Or have we done something praiseworthy on our own merit and not based on the merit of others? Stand or fall, our lives’ success or failure comes down to our decisions, and we alone are responsible. 

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit (the results of His presence within us) is love (unselfish concern for others), joy (inner) peace, patience (not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Without Jesus and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, none of the above would be possible. When our flesh fits, it takes us down a rabbit trail, with us flopping all over the place without the Holy Spirit keeping us stable. The stronger we develop ourselves in this love guided by the Holy Spirit, the less likely sin will be able to enter our lives and influence our actions and reactions. 

1 John 4:20

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his (Christian) brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother who he has seen, cannot love God who he has not seen. 

Somedays, we need to take stock of our own hearts. Are we living up to God’s standard of love, or have we become resentful, angry, jealous, or bitter toward someone? Sin is sneaky that way, and offense, in any way, can separate from God’s love. It takes one decision to forgive and turn back to love. 

Proverbs 3:3-4

Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you (instead let these qualities define you); bind them (securely) around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.

What is a person of character? Someone who contains mercy, kindness, and truth. We are known to others by our beliefs and actions, which come out of our hearts. If we are to find favor with God and man, we must be people of integrity in our beliefs and actions. 

1 Corinthians 13:1

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love (for others growing out of God’s love for me), then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (just an annoying distraction).

Love comes from God. We don’t naturally have this kind of love. The Holy Spirit develops the love inside us for others because we cannot do it ourselves without depending on God. Without God, we could not daily deal with the rejection of our love. The greater our relationship with God, the better our love of others will be. 

John 13:34-35

I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another. 

Every person sitting in the pew on Sunday has quirks, and Jesus recognizes that we may not always be our best selves. However, Jesus still loves us; we should love each other and not be selfish. Love means we are kind, bear with each other, and reciprocate giving and receiving love. 

1 John 4:7-8 

Beloved, let us love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves (others) is born of God and knows God (through personal experience). The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God (does not and never did know Him) for God is love. (He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.)

We may not always agree with other people, but we can walk in love. Someone may insult us, demean us, or mistreat us, but it doesn’t have to make us bitter or mean. Love doesn’t say what another person does is right; it becomes a barrier to the anger and bitterness of the world. Love is our superpower.

Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) will gain new strength and renew their power; they will lift up their wings (and rise up close to God) like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not grow tired.

Those who wait on the Lord expect the answer. The act of waiting on God requires confident expectation, and the person waiting has engaged their faith. The answer is coming from God. God will strengthen us when we trust and put our hope in Him. 

Acts 3:19

So repent (change your inner self-your old way of thinking, regret past sins) and return (to God-seek His purpose for your life), so that your sins may be wiped away (blotted out, completely erased), so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day).

Keeping our minds and hearts clean and fresh to God’s leading makes all the difference. We don’t have to stay on the sinful path, but we can turn and have our sins wiped away. God will reset our hearts and spirits and renew our faith. Restoration from the presence of the Lord will set us back on track with our faith. 

Joel 2:13

Rip your heart to pieces (in sorrow and contrition) and not your garments. Now return (in repentance) to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness (faithful to His covenant with His people); and He relents (His sentence of evil (when His people genuinely repent). 

The door to God is always open to the person who genuinely repents in their heart. The devil will tell people they can never be forgiven, and he is a liar. If we make a mistake (and we all do), repent and get back in fellowship with God. Bar the door to the past mistakes and turn away from the old temptations. Remind them that God is the savior and made us free from their influence.