We are completing week three today and I have thoroughly enjoyed this time studying and fellowshipping together. Thank you for joining me along this journey.
Today we are reading Galatians 5:16-18. I have posted it below. If you have a few extra minutes please share your insights or thoughts. Here are today’s verses for you to read.
“6 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18
“16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
Paul did not want them to rely on the law to keep them from sinning but rather to walk by the Spirit. But he knew there would be a battle between the flesh and the Spirit because the two are opposed to each other. He told them that the only way to not gratify the desires of the flesh was to be led by the Holy Spirit. In doing this, they would be free from the law and would be pleasing God. The Galatians may have felt there were only two choices, follow the law or sin. But we have a third choice and that is to walk by the Spirit. Paul says when we walk by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. He does not say you will not have the desires. He only says you will not gratify them. The Holy Spirit is inside of you and he wants to free you, but you must be led by the Holy Spirit rather than the flesh to overcome fleshly desires.
My reflection for the day: So for me, walking in the Spirit is not always a conviction of sin, but also a prompting of the Holy Spirit to do or not do something regarding direction, decisions, and so on. I guess that is walking according to the Spirit and not the flesh. I believe being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and hearing His voice is so important in our lives, tuning into the realm of his prompting and voice. I found that in my life, God started with gentle promptings, and then it grew as I learned to recognize between what was His voice and the flesh. I still at times miss or ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit and always wish that I hadn’t. There is spiritual warfare going on in our lives and learning to walk in the Spirit can surely make things more victorious when we follow his ways.
Reflection Question: Isn’t it such a blessing to have Holy Spirit in our lives to prompt, convict, and just fellowship with us?
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