Live; Walk!

Live; Walk!

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25 KJV

Context:

Paul speaks of the strength of both the Spirit and the flesh. He had a personal experience of both extremes, so you could say he was qualified to speak on the matter. It is very clear that both the Spirit and the flesh are two extreme masters; none leaves room for the other to operate. 

If you are under the control of the Spirit, you cannot still please flesh. If the flesh is in control, the Spirit has no room to operate. These are parallel lines that can never meet, no matter how long you draw or try to manipulate them, because they are from two different sources and with different eternal consequences.

Message and Response:

The most important question then that a man will have to answer today is: Who is in charge? I must think and consider very carefully what the reality of my life is at the moment: what are the things able to hold and keep my attention; what are my present pursuits and priorities and who or what is the inspiration behind these?

And I note from the passage that there is no room for being passive; you will have to pursue after that which holds your heart. So that there is no confusion, Paul lays out what are the signs that the flesh is in charge: immorality, impurity, indecency, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, divisions, party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), envy, drunkenness, carousing and the like. He then warns that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God, because none of these practices align with the dictates of the Spirit. 

Of course, God would not demand a thing from me without providing guidance on how to do it and what that thing looks like. The thing is called the fruit of the Spirit, and it manifests in various expressions such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law on earth, made by man, that can make any of the above a criminal offence. 

My life must be a daily walk of faith, in line with the presence and influence of the Spirit. I am not pushing my point of view as the right one, but as I live in line with the Spirit, the proof of his presence will be the loudest message that my life can produce. Even if men do not see my point of view now, as long as it is the Truth of God's Word that I live by, that truth will surely prevail. I do not fight to uphold my point of view; I simply allow the One who lives in me to speak out through me. I do not passively accept heresy; I speak out as led by the Spirit of God in me, but if there is no open heart to receive it, I do not leave room for bitterness, but allow the Spirit of God, inspiration behind the truth of God's Word, to do his work.

That is the message of today's extract. If the Spirit is in charge, my life will reflect that fact. If he lives in me, my walk and work will show it. There is no room for hypocrisy and self-deceit; I cannot fool God with external showmanship that is empty of the presence of God. If God is in charge, it will show. If he is not, it will also show. If I claim to be a child of God, my life must be a visible, daily expression and testament to that truth. 

Is my life's pursuits, priorities and conduct controlled by the Spirit? Note: the response will speak into eternity. I had better be sure. His time of favour is here.