March 16 – Galatians 5:16-24
Our Jesus, we praise You, for You are Salvation. You are Hope. You are Peace! We love You and want to draw near to You. Be with us as we come together to spend time with You and worship You.
Greetings, dear sisters in Christ!
Have you met someone from your past and they present as a completely different person? Perhaps, when you knew them, they were bitter, lost, or just a ‘normal’ person. But now, something is different; it could be a huge change or a small one. Some might have a complete lifestyle change, some might now be gracious, some might have peace follow them in their wake. Life changes us, grows, and shapes us. The salvation that Jesus gives does that, too! We are completely made new! From the inside to the out!
Upon our salvation, the Spirit indwells in us, thus making us a temple. That knowledge, that truth, should change everything. How we talk, think, behave, everything done with the knowledge that we are now housing the very Spirit of Christ. These verses lay out how and why this is. Paul wrote this knowing we would falter, and he wrote it knowing we would need a neat and tidy list of what to stay away from, what things will make us stumble and falter.
He is not gentle here. He is giving us firm warnings of what will happen if we do not live by the Spirit. If ever you enter into confession time with God and think, ‘Wow! I’ve been great today!’ Take a moment to read through verses 19-22. And reassess. When we proclaim our faith in Jesus, the expectation is to lead a clean and holy life. And even on our best days… we do not!
The work of the cross has set us free from what holds and binds us here on earth. And while we sojourn, we must put into practice wholly living as Jesus did. He is our ultimate example of how to produce fruit. Seek out the Spirit, ask for His discernment and strength to do what is good in the eyes of Jesus.
My Verse: Galatians 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
My Response: Jesus, I want to live as You did, as You are asking me to. And yet, here I live and breathe, struggling to do just that. Give me the Spirit of conviction and discernment, Lord, to live a life that is honorable, holy, and pleasing to You.
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My verse: Galatians 5:16 “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
My response: Father, You give us so much freedom and autonomy. That word “let” just grabbed me. Even when You enter me, as Spirit, eager and ready to guide me in the way I should go, You do not force me. Each day – each moment, really – I’m allowed choice. Will I yield, so You can guide? Today … YES, please, help me yield. Oh Lord, I want Your guidance every day. Make me willing.