Today is Friday, February 4th, 2005; Karen's Korner #475

A number of years ago my aunt, Helen, gave me a Bible which I really like. Along with the familiar words, there are commentaries about the verses at the bottom of each page. Sometimes there is a character assessment of some Bible person. Other times there are some expanded thinking on a part of what is being written.
 
In one section near Galatians chapter 5, there is a comparison of what is written at the tail end of that chapter. It is titled "Vices and Virtues". The writer lists one versus the other:
 
VICES (neglecting God and others) - impure thoughts, lust, hatred, fighting, jealousy, anger, trying to be first, complaining, criticizing, thinking you are always right, envy, murder, idolatry, spiritism, drunkenness, wild parties, cheating, adultery, homosexuality, greed, stealing, lying.
 
VIRTUES (the by-products of living for God) - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
 
When I look at the list of "vices", I can either feel pretty good about myself because some of them I would never do. But then there are others...... Funny thing is God sees one on the list in the same light as any of the others. He doesn't like it!
 
And then the virtues. Sometimes I think God is pretty lucky to have somebody like me as His Child. Other days I wonder if He had any idea what He was getting when He got me! 
 
Thank you, God.for your gift of love! For me and for everyone else in my world and yours!!
 

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