How Shall we Now Live?

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Scripture: Galatians 5:16-25 (ESV)

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 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. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

 

Meditation:

            Today we will look at how it is we live the Christian life. This is Paul’s well known passage on the fruit of the Spirit. But the first and last verses give us our biggest clue as to how we can actually live out the fruit of the Spirit in our own lives.

            These verses have to do with walking in the Spirit. Walking with the Spirit involves intentionally seeking the filling of the Holy Spirit daily. We must go about our daily business constantly checking up on ourselves. Do our actions line up with the fruit of the Spirit listed here? If not it’s time to stop and ask for a filling with the Holy Spirit.

            We need to keep our eyes on the Spirit during this process. We are not called to be the Holy Spirit police force. We must keep our eyes on our own behavior and bring it in line with fruit of the Spirit. We can encourage others to do the same, but never judge them. As we never know what it is like to be our neighbor. We must “keep in step” with the Spirit. And not criticize our neighbor who lags behind or be jealous of our neighbor who seems to run ahead.

            If we are filled with the Holy Spirit we will be kind to our neighbors loving them in the Lord. Let us pray that God will help us to walk with the Spirit always staying in step with what the Spirit requires of us.

 

Prayer:

Holy God, we ask you to help us to be examples of a Spirit-filled life before a hurting and hungry world. Help us to show forth your holiness in a way that is attractive and winning toward the unbelievers around us. Teach us gentleness and kindness so that we may always be examples of your love. May we exemplify peace and joy to a war weary and joyless world. Help us Lord to always follow you in the power of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen.   

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