Today’s Scripture: Galatians 5:18, NKJV- “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
Our emotions can escalate or descend in a split second. Due to several reasons I was unable to finish my devotional yesterday entitled “I am being led by the Spirit.” Moments after writing these words I was driving and someone in front of me was going twenty miles an hour below the speed limit. Already running late, do you think I acted like someone that was being led by the Spirit? Not exactly.
What came out of me was not the fruit of the Spirit. I am thankful that I had just been reading God’s Word so that I could quickly recognize the path I was on and turn back to the Spirit. I was living out God’s Word in real time.
In Galatians 5:19-21 Paul states “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (NIV)
Instead of grading ourselves on a curve or justifying our actions, we must turn our hearts, minds, and spirits back to follow the Spirit. Fortunately, just as quickly as we turn to be ruled by our flesh, we can turn back to the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. “(ESV)
The New Living Translation of Galatians 5:16-17 describes the dichotomy of our lives in this way, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.”
What comes naturally to us is to seek our own way and then turn to the Spirit once our ways have run us off the road. In the ditches of life is where we often look around for help. Jesus left us the helper.
Paul pointed out in Galatians 3:3 “How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” (NLT) We do have hope! Galatians 4:6 promises “And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” We can call Him Father because Galatians 4:28 tells us that we are children of promise.
I had to chuckle as I read Galatians 5:7 this morning, “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” (NIV) It seems the lady that pulled in front of me forced me to face the truth although it first was disobedience. I love you stranger for reminding me to slow down and look to follow the Spirit in times when my flesh attempts to take the wheel.
Galatians 5:14 gives me hope, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (NKJV) As Galatians 6:9 encourages, I will not give up trying to do good, but my faith is in the Spirit of God who is leading us in love.
Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, my faith is in Jesus Christ and Your Spirit. Holy Spirit I am seeking Your help to follow You. You are the Helper that Jesus promised. Please help me turn to You when I am tempted to follow my flesh or my own understanding of the law. Father God, I love You with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength and I need Your Spirit to help me love all my neighbors. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Leave a Reply