Sinning or Living In The SpIrit

REFERENCE: Galatians 5:16, 24-25 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. . .

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Observation: Here we are given two keys to living our lives free from sin. The first is to let the Holy Spirit guide our lives. It means not waiting until the temptation arrives but, as verse 25 points out, listening and following the Spirit at all times. Since one of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control, it makes sense that if we are following the Spirit we will be able to control our evil desires. What it takes, though is a first thing in the morning and all through the day awareness of His presence and willingness to let Him control what we look at, how we talk and what we do all the time. If He controls all the rest, the moment of temptation will not be an issue.

The other key is to recognize that our sin nature was nailed to the cross with Jesus. As Paul says, “reckon yourself dead to sin”. It is an attitude and practice of reminding ourselves that our sin nature no longer has a right to tell us what to do. It is dead!! We just have to keep reminding ourselves of that truth and living like it is true.

Application/Confession: Too often I forget to let the Holy Spirit direct me moment by moment. I know that I would face less temptation and do better when I do if I did let Him direct me. I need to remember that my sin nature died with Jesus. That is where I want it to be.

PRAYER: Lord, teach me, more and more, how to walk in Your Spirit. I don’t ever want to be controlled by my sin nature but by Your Spirit. Help me to live like that all the time.