“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” – Galatians 5:25

There is Nothing Quite Like a Good Laugh!
Only on two occasions in my life can I remember experiencing what I would call a gut-wrenching, roll-on-the-floor, can’t-stop, belly laugh. It’s actually painful and exhausting but so good.

The first one was from watching Jonathan Winters’ Gas Station destruction scene in ITS A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD. Wow! (You can guess that I grew up on a steady diet of 3 Stooges)

The other one is from the Pink Panther movies, when Inspector Clouseau would be attacked by his Chinese manservant, Cato (totally un-PC). In order to keep the Inspector’s fighting skills honed, at the most unsuspecting and inopportune times, Cato would spring from a hidden space screaming, “Saaaaaaaaaah” to attack Clouseau. The ensuing fights were long and vicious, as well as destructive to the furniture, and always interrupted by the telephone ringing, at which point they would become civil again. I think on one viewing I may have split the proverbial gut.
One of the infamous lines amid the ensuing martial arts battle would be Clouseau screaming, “Caatooo, This Is Not the Time!” followed by, “Now Is the Time!”
Of course, Clouseau’s screaming, “Caatooo, This Is Not the Time!” was his way of breaking Cato’s advantage. When Cato would stop, Clouseau would immediately scream, “Now is the time!” to gain the fighting advantage.
This is a line that is very recognizable to my family and often repeated amid some family hijinks.

Wait. Is There a Spiritual Application?
The quote makes me think of Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:” Ecc 3 includes in Verse 4 – “a time to weep and a time to laugh,” as well as Verse 8 – “a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Of course, the writer is indicating that there is not just any time for these things but certain or appropriate or appointed times for each of these things.

Keeping in Step with the Spirit – Now is Not the Time!
In Galatians 5:25 Paul writes, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
What is Paul saying when he wrote to keep in step with the Spirit? He is saying 1. Don’t get ahead of the Spirit’s pace (Now is not the time) and 2. Don’t lag behind (Now is the time) – be right in step.

According to the Bible God is perfect in all ways. In Matthew 5:48 Jesus declares – “. . . your heavenly Father is perfect.” And the Psalmist concurs writing in Psalm 18:30 “This God—his way is perfect;” If God is perfect and His way is perfect then His timing is perfect. Are we “living by the Spirit” by actively listening for His voice and being quick to act accordingly?

The Spiritual Discipline of SILENCE
There was an episode at a church meeting where I was advocating for something and another leader shut me down. I felt attacked and belittled with my character and good intentions besmirched. (How dare anyone question my inherent goodness?) In my flesh, I felt I had every right to respond and defend myself. In fact, many people would say that I must. But, at the time I heard God say (Though not in a goofy French accent) “Now is not the time.”

So, I obeyed and exercised the Spiritual Discipline of SILENCE. This Spiritual Discipline includes restricting your speech by not acting on the impulse to righteously defend yourself but to pray and trusting that God will step in. Exodus 14:14 says, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still/silent.” We don’t always see the results of exercising Spiritual Disciplines but in this case, God clearly stepped in and spoke in unison to several leaders. What I was advocating for was implemented in a different way but with wonderful Kingdom results without me ever saying another word. (Soooo good when God does it!)
When I am feeling angry or frustrated, are these not legitimate feelings? Yes, but when I’m tempted to act out on them in an “It’s all about me” way I can often hear a voice saying, “Daaaviiiid, This Is Not the Time!”
This has happened many times in my life when I want to debate a point, confront a situation, or write an email or text response to something that has riled me. It’s often a knee-jerk response to defend myself or inject righteous judgment. God steps in to say, Take the time to meditate on what I would have you say or do.
When keeping in step with the Spirit we need only go back several verses in Galatians 5:22-23 – The Fruit of the Spirit as our guide for how we act and talk. Which for me is not always my initial inclination.
When I can remove any self-righteousness, and speak and act in God’s righteousness reflecting the full Fruit of the Spirit, I can hear God say, “Now is the time.”

There is No Time for That!
This brings to mind another powerful line in a similar vein from the movie, Gettysburg. There is a scene where General Robert E Lee confronts Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart. Stuart has been gallivanting over the Pennsylvania countryside with his cavalry making headlines but not reporting back to Lee with critical intelligence on the Union troops. When Lee expresses his and others’ disappointment in him, Stuart wants to defend his honor and then offers to resign. The usually soft-spoken Lee yells, “There is no time for that!”
The application is that when facing the battle there is no time or energy to waste focusing on ourselves – soothing our egos or being sidetracked by being personally offended.
There have been occasions when I’ve been offended and inclined to retreat. But, on those occasions when I’ve taken those feelings to God I’ve heard him say, “Is my love and appreciation for you not enough? I’ve got so much for you to do. There is no time for self-pity and self-loathing. Let’s get back to doing what I’ve designed for you to do. Now is the time.”

Keeping in Step with the Spirit – Now is the Time!
I believe that God is speaking and more often than calling out “Now is not the time!” God is prompting us with, “Now is the time!” Are we listening? When we hear God speaking or giving instructions, do we act?
Pastor Jeremy of my home church recently spoke on responding to God’s prompting and being willing to get out of the boat and take risks. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him”. The writer is saying that God loves those who by His prompting are willing to step into the unknown. Why? Because they trust God that much.
Are we willing to put aside our agenda for the day or for a time to act on a prompting from God – to pay a visit, write a note, or meet a need? Now is the time. Often, I’ll tell myself I will act on it later but I miss the moment.
James writes, Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. The works James is referring to are not just working harder at a job but the acts we perform in response to God’s prompting. They are tangible evidence of our faith.

Inspector Jesus Clouseau
Even Jesus had somewhat of an Inspector Clouseau experience in the second chapter of John’s Gospel. Mary solicits Jesus to perform a miracle by providing a wedding party with more wine. Jesus declared, “Woman, my hour has not yet come.” Or, in other words, “Now is not the time!” I can reasonably conclude that Jesus (who declared in John 5:19 that He only does what He sees/discerns the Father reveals for Him to do), asked His Heavenly Father, “Is now the time?” His Father then confirmed, “Now is the time!” Based on that confirmation, Jesus complied with Mary’s request to perform His first public miracle. It was not in Mary’s time, not even in Jesus’ time but in the Father’s time.

Let’s remind ourselves that Now is not the time to focus on ourselves but Now is the time to listen and act on God’s prompting for the interests of others. Philippians 2:4 – “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

“Now is the time!” for Gloria
A little over a year ago Don Treash went to be with our King in glory. I couldn’t think then of many who exhibit the full Fruit of the Spirit as Don did so well. Certainly, one would be the perfect partner in their Ekbasis (Good Finish), Gloria. Last Saturday she joined Don to be with their King in Glory.
A few days before she passed she was, as far as I know, healthy and actively loving like Jesus to those around her. Our Group was on a Zoom call with her being in good health the night before she fell ill. But in the Father’s perfection, the next day He said, “Now is the Time.”
So, today I want to take this time to remember and honor our beloved leaders of our Community Group – teachers, friends, mentors, and their wonderful Ekbasis – how Gloria, like her partner Don led their lives right up through to a good finish. We will always love and cherish you for your loving kindness and for leading us into a deeper knowledge of God.
Our Community Group which they led for so many years rejoices in their reunion in Heaven and their union with our loving King.