Devotional: Choose Flesh or Spirit Galatians 5:13-26

As human beings we are born in bondage to sin. Our nature is to seek to live according to the desires of the flesh; as Paul says, according to the carnal nature. Although we may do some things that meet the approval of our communities, we do so because our nature is to be accepted and approved by other people. We cannot change our nature with our own strength. God alone can change our nature and our hearts. God does the work for us when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Once we receive Christ Jesus He sends the Holy Spirit to live in us. Now we are free. We are free from sin. We are free to live/walk according to the Spirit.

As we examine our scripture passage we learn that the flesh and the Spirit have no traits in common. Paul writes to the church. He tells them that the conflicts among them results because they are living according to the flesh. These problems can be eliminated if all of them will walk according to the Spirit. The flesh brings divisions while the Spirit brings unity.

The list of traits is listed so that the people can correctly evaluate themselves. Am I walking according to the flesh? Am I walking according to the Spirit? We must walk according to the Spirit because those that do not have the Spirit do not belong to Jesus. As human beings we can choose to walk according to the flesh; the sinful nature or we can walk according to the Spirit. Jesus died on the cross to free me from sin. I choose to walk in the Spirit.

Prayer: Father, I thank you for the freedom to walk in the Spirit. Amen.