“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 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...If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16-17, 25 (ESV)
As a young Christian growing up in a Southern Baptist church, what I heard I was supposed to do was not always what I wanted to do. And, to be more authentic, what I heard my parents asking me to do was not always what I wanted to do. Why?
I was generally a good kid, so long as you only observed most of my actions or the actions I wanted people to see. As early as I remember, I knew right from wrong, yet I didn’t always choose ‘right.’ Why did I not want to do what the Bible taught and my parents asked of me?
Genesis 8:21, Jeremiah 17:9, Psalm 51:5, Proverbs 22:15, Ecclesiastes 9:3, and Ephesians 2:1-3 all share that we are sinful by nature and unrighteous from the start. I understand this is not comforting to read. And, for some of you reading this, you are saying ‘AMEN!’, understanding what you have been delivered from. Others reading this might be hearing this for the first time. So, what are we to do with the consistent struggle many people feel to resist evil and live for Jesus?
Here are a few thoughts to consider that I’m praying will help you during our fast for Change in ourselves, our churches, and our city:
The Gift of Salvation: Romans 6:23 shares, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Have you received the free gift of Jesus? In an age of ‘likes’ and ‘thumbs up,’ it is easy to believe that liking or agreeing with Jesus is enough. It is not. The first step is receiving the free-to-us (it cost Jesus everything) gift of salvation.
The Gift of the Holy Spirit: Did you know the work of God did not stop with the gift of salvation in Jesus? Acts 2:38 states: “…’Repent and be baptized…and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” As free as salvation is, the story gets even better.
Keep in step with the Spirit: Believe it or not, there is even better news. The Holy Spirit walks with us! Galatians 5:16: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” A decision to follow Jesus comes with a guide (the Bible) and a teacher (the Holy Spirit) to help us understand the guidance.
Are you keeping in step with the Spirit? Shifting our minds from what we might believe God wants from us to what God wants for us can transform how we see God and others.
Change is hard. But Change with the power of the Holy Spirit is possible.
And this is my challenge to all of us today…are we focused on what we think the Lord wants from us, or can we accept what he has for us? The beginning of Galatians 5 says: For freedom, Christ has set us free.
Pray with me: “Father, thank you for your gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit, and the working of the Holy Spirit in my life. Many thoughts are flooding my mind about what I might need or want to change. Please quiet my mind and help me see you walking with me today. Please allow me to hear your still, small voice and be encouraged that you are walking with me, equipping me to do every good work for your glory. Amen.”
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