Paul the apostle has refuted
the false teachings of the Judaizers, and he has instructed the
Galatian church members to serve one another by love. But how are
they to do that? Isn't that contrary to the way they are? Paul the
apostle knows the natural inclination within people to live after
their fleshly desires, so he tells the Galatians in chapter five and
verse sixteen:
[This] I say then, Walk
in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Let us
note first Paul's conclusion to the matter of loving others, “This
I say then,...” Because there was biting and devouring among
the believers in Galatia, and there was not an endeavor to love and
serve as Paul instructed, it was therefore necessary that Paul not
only give instruction for how to live but also to provide the manner
which this living could be carried out. Loving one another was not
only Paul's instruction but it was Jesus' command, and by loving God
and loving one another they would fulfill the entire law. Paul needed
to show how this could be done.
Paul
continued, “Walk in the Spirit,...” Let's notice first the
word “walk”. It doesn't say “run”, nor does it say
“amble in a hurried pace.” No, it say “walk” which has
the implication of taking one's time, plodding along, without anxious
thoughts or actions. It denotes deliberate, willful, and purposed
action. The church members were to “walk” “in the Spirit.”
Jesus promised in the gospel of John in chapters fourteen and sixteen
that He would send the comforter, the Holy Spirit, after His
resurrection. In John sixteen and verse thirteen its says:
However when he, the
Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he
shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that]
shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
The
Galatian church members had the Spirit of God with them after they
received Jesus as their Savior, and now they needed to walk in the
confines of His guidance.
Paul
continues, “and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
The desires of the flesh are strong, and the imposing power of
fleshly wants can override a person's good judgment, compromise one's
position, and generate a world of trouble. Loving others is often
contrary to the flesh, and the natural bent is to love oneself rather
than loving someone else. Paul knew it would be a work of God's
Spirit within the church members if they were ever going to fulfill
the law of God by loving one another. The Galatians needed God's
Spirit to guide them and empower them to live contrary to the false
teaching Judaizers while living in love toward one another.
Do
we wonder why our flesh seems so powerful at times? Are there desires
within our flesh that are contrary to God's law to love others? Are
their passions within us that have much more to do with fulfilling
fleshly things than godly, holy, and spiritual things? Perhaps we
should slow our pace just a bit today and consider taking a walk –
a walk in the Spirit, and allow God to instruct us, guide us, and
empower to live our lives after His ways. When we take this walk our
fleshly ways will be overshadowed by the greatness of His presence.
Next time we will look closer into the battle between the flesh and
the spirit, so read ahead, and let us join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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