DAY 4: LIVING BY THE SPIRIT
Read Galatians 5:16-26.
In today’s passage, living by the Spirit is contrasted with living according to the flesh (NIV – sinful nature). The battle to gratify the desires of the flesh (and note that those desires seek gratification meaning there is a strong draw) is won by living by the Spirit. The flesh and Spirit are in conflict with one another, and the passage indicates that we are only able to stand up to the temptation (i.e. “so that you do not do what you want”) by the power of the Spirit. Trying to defeat the flesh’s power in our own strength in the spirit of the law (i.e. trying to live a do’s and don’ts kind of life) is not the answer. The answer is found in living by the Spirit. Paul expands this thought in Romans 8:5-6. I encourage you take 30 seconds and read the passage.
Living by the Spirit means setting our minds on what the Spirit desires (Rom. 8:5). Rather than fighting off the flesh’s thoughts and temptations (this, giving our attention to the flesh), we are to turn our thoughts toward what is godly and pleasing to God (turning our attention to the Spirit). With our minds continually turned toward the things of God, the desires of the flesh are transported away – the desire for gratification gone.
Personal thought:
What sounds simple is not always easy. Keeping our minds on the things of God can be a struggle with our eyes and ears constantly bombarded with the immoral. The fast pace of life overcrowded with activities can add stress to an already stressful life of work. I recently saw a television commercial that encouraged teenagers to “pause” before jumping in to something regrettable. That is practical advice when we are tempted to gratify the impulses of the flesh. Pausing and taking a breath and turning our thoughts to God may help. Ultimately, though, we need to develop a continual awareness of God’s presence and live with Him moment by moment. That is a process that will take time and effort. The combination of knowing what pleases God through Scripture, the prompting of the Holy Spirit on our heart and conscience working through that knowledge, our desire to set our minds on the things of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to live in step with the Spirit, helps us develop more and more fruit.
To consider:
Galatians 5:19-23 reveals the difference between the flesh and the Spirit. In looking at the list of fleshly acts, are there some areas that you struggle with? In those struggles, what do you believe “setting our minds on what the Spirit desires” looks like practically for you in relation to that struggle?
Gal. 5:22-23 lists the fruit of a life lived in the Spirit. Here, they are not given as goals to pursue, but the product of a Spirit-led life. Looking at the list of fruit, how is your Spirit-led life progressing?
