But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
The injunction to walk by the Spirit can be confusing for some believers. What does it mean to walk by the Spirit? How can believers walk by the Spirit while living and operating in a physical world? How do we know when we are walking by the Spirit? When a person gives his or her life to Christ, the Holy Spirit is invited to dwell in that person. The Holy Spirit quickens our spirits and enables us to walk in the path of righteousness and to cultivate holiness in obedience to God through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit leads and guides believers in their daily living to remain in the circumference of God’s grace and mercy. The Holy Spirit is a faithful companion to those who truly surrender their hearts to Jesus Christ. To walk by the Spirit is to prioritize our hunger for righteousness over our carnal desires. It is to walk away from our sinful past so we can bear the fruits of holiness to God's glory. Those who walk by the Spirit reject the devil's ideologies and his deceptions to embrace the truth of God’s holy word. Indeed, no one walks by the Spirit without obedience to the word of God. For it is the word that teaches how we can please God while living in a sinful world. Paul begins the fifth chapter of Galatians by reminding believers that they should not allow themselves to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery since they have been set free by Jesus Christ. He then exhorted them to be wise in the application and adjudication of their freedom to remain uncontrolled by the desires of the flesh. The only way this spiritual exercise can be accomplished is by the help of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, he cautions them to walk by the Spirit. The Spirit of God is a Spirit of truth. There is no deception in the Holy Spirit. Those who walk according to the Spirit will maintain mastery over the desires of their flesh. They will think with a renewed mind, love with a pure heart, serve with humility, and honor God in all aspects of their lives. Walking by the Spirit does not make one perfect. For, it is in walking by the Spirit that we are being perfected. We will forever remain a work in progress until we transition to glory. Yet as we walk by the Spirit, we become the chosen people, the royal priesthood, and the holy nation that Peter talks about in 1 Peter 2:9. As redeemed sinners, set apart for God, and destined to be raptured with our Savior, Jesus Christ, upon his return, we have to walk by the Spirit so the world can be drawn to the light of Christ in us. Walking by the Spirit is our badge of faith and our statement of surrender to the Lordship of Christ. It is our reminder to ourselves that we have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in us. The life we now live in the body, we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and have himself for us (Galatians 2:20).” The enemy is deceiving many believers into thinking they cannot walk by the Spirit. Thus, some are struggling to walk away from old destructive habits and lifestyles that are inconsistent with their confession of faith in Christ Jesus. The truth is that believers can do all things through Christ who strengthens them, including walking by the Spirit. We do not have to gratify the sinful desires of our flesh. The Holy Spirit in us is greater than our lust for sinfulness. Our victory over sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ overshadows the mistakes we make throughout our Christian journey. Moreover, when the enemy tries to whisper in our ears that we are too wretched to walk by Spirit, we have to reply: Yes We Can! Prayer- Bless Lord, thank you for the freedom given to believers to walk by the Spirit. Please help us not to gratify the sinful desires of the flesh as we seek to be holy and acceptable in your sight.
Comentarios