Daily Dwelling

Galatians 5: 16-18 says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.”

Paul goes on to talk about the battle we are guaranteed to experience between our flesh and our spirit as followers of Christ. He reminds us that even though it is an interior battle, the results are outwardly visible.

To walk in the spirit, we must put off the flesh and put on our new self. It is a daily choice of surrender and obedience. It seems simple, but that does not make it easy. Paul helps us out by listing some examples of sinful living for us. They include different types of sensual sins, religious sins, interpersonal sins and social sins.

After listing these for us he makes a very important closing remark by saying “and the like.” Many people like to argue that just because the Bible doesn’t list a specific action as a sin, it gives us permission to freely partake in it. I always like to respond by saying, “Yes! You’re right. That is not listed as a sin in the Bible, just like the command to not run people over with your car is not listed in the Bible, yet somehow we know that it’s an action the Lord would not consider righteous living.” So thank you Paul for telling us that the list is exhaustive and there are other things alike that would relate to this list, too.

He then says, “These people will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Wow! That is a hard pill to swallow. Does that mean that if I have walked in the flesh prior to knowing the Lord and committed these sins, that I will also not inherit the kingdom of God? Thank the Lord, that His grace is sufficient to cover our sins as long as we are made aware of our sin by the Holy Spirit and we choose to repent and truly turn towards Christ, away from the flesh. If we are however, still living by the flesh and walking in these sinful actions without remorse, Paul is very clear what that means for us.

I studied these verses this past week and was reminded that I was only made aware of my flesh because the Holy Spirit convicted me. I did nothing to become righteous in Christ. In the same way, it is the Lord’s role to change the hearts of those around us. Does He need us? No, but He chooses to use us to communicate His truth in the way we love, speak, guide, encourage, and bring conviction.

Today I am grateful for the God who saved me from my flesh and continues to do so each and every day. I am thankful that the Lord is near to me and never leaves me or forsakes me because I need Him! Without Him, I would be walking in the flesh, unaware of my own brokenness apart from Him. But He loved me and He loves you too. Rest in His goodness and grace and let it keep you deeply dependent on Him as you walk by the spirit and not by the flesh.