“Galatians 5:16-26 (Part 1)”

Thursday, July 26, 2018

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”

---End of Scripture verses---

What does it mean to “walk by the Spirit” (verse 16)? It means to allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct the way that we live our lives. How does He do that? The Holy Spirit will only wield His influence over us when we spend ample time reading His revelation, and allowing that powerful, sharp, active, living world to shape, influence and transform our lives (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:21).

When we are “led by the Spirit” (verse 18), we “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). When we let “the word of Christ richly dwell in” us (Colossians 3:16), we welcome the Holy Spirit into our hearts, and minds and that produces all manner of good “fruit” (verse 22).

Paul repeatedly used the metaphor of “walking” in his letter to the Ephesians to illustrate what the Spirit-led life looks like on a daily basis. In Ephesians 2:10, he tells us that we should walk in “good works”. As our Lord Jesus “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), so we should follow in our Savior’s footsteps. In Ephesians 4:1-2 Paul says we must walk “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love.”

In Ephesians 5:1-2, we learn that the life led by the Holy Spirit is a sacrificial life: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” To live by the Spirit is to walk circumspectly and make the most of the opportunities that God has given us in our earthly lives: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)

These verses are way too rich to just zip through.

Let’s linger in Galatians 5:16-26 for tomorrow and the next few days if the Lord is willing.

Have a blessed day!

-Louie Taylor

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