Thoughts on the readings for April 4th (Numbers 19, Proverbs 14, Galatians 5,6) .

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRITContact with death, or even going into a tent where a dead body was, made the Israelite unclean under the Law. The remedy was for water of separation made from the ashes of a red heifer that was offered as a sin offering (Numbers 19)The red heifer was led “forth without the camp”. This pointed forward to Christ (Heb 13:12) who also suffered without the camp and so in Hebrews we are exhorted to go therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach. Just as the ashes of the heifer were for the purification of both Jew and gentile – stranger (v10) – the blood of Christ can cover the sins of any. There was no intrinsic virtue in the ashes. It required faith to believe in their efficacy – just like the blood of Jesus.Romans 6:23 states•The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God s eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.This was because the Lord Jesus had the opposite effect to the Law. He touched dead bodies and they came alive and was thus far superior to the water of separation (purification) made from the ashes of the Red Heifer•Heb 9:12-14 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?Rather than offering sacrifices, the Lord Jesus taught that the Law was fulfilled in love for others. Love God was the first Great Commandment and•Matt 22:38-40 the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.The Law of Moses was basically honouring God and loving your neighbour and it had been superseded by the Law of Christ.•Those who are led by Spirit are not under the Law( Galatians 5:18)Being led by the Spirit, means believing and practising the commandments of the Lord Jesus, and producing the fruit of the spirit, which is love, joy , peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control and Paul states these are far better than the law. Our Love needs to be like God’s perfect love, an unselfish (agape) love.. Agape love is where you are prepared to unselfishly be like the Lord Jesus and give up all for the God you love and His servants, just as God gave His Son for us.1 Corinthians 13:4-8 states that someone showing this kind of love is long suffering, kind, doesn’t envy, doesn’t brag, or behave badly. They aren’t partial nor easily annoyed. With no evil thoughts and hating sin, they are truthful, patient, hopeful and good under pressure.And we can aim to be that kind of person, if we develop the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, striving to have the type of love which God has for us and which we see in His daily care for us and by His gift of His only Son.Paul says•Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Gal 5:16 .