Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Galatians 5:16-18 – So I Say Live By The Spirit – Growing As Disciples
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Feast And Famine
Do you want to live your life for me? Yes, I want to live my life fully and completely for you. What must I do since I want to live my life for you? You know the answer to your own question. You tell me. I must do two things in living my life for you. That’s right. I must live by your Spirit. How will you live by my Spirit? I must listen to you. I must follow you to where you lead me. I must do all that you ask of me. How will you go about listening to me? How will you receive guidance from me? I will set aside a time and a place to meet with you in your word. I will allow you to speak your word into my life. I will let your word dwell in me richly. Your word will do its work in me. How so? Your word will change my heart and transform my mind. Yes, it will. Your Spirit will take your word and use it as a sword to fight in me, with me, and for me. Your word will make me able to stand against temptation. Your word will strengthen my desire to live by your Spirit. Your word will give me a hunger to know you and a desire to walk in your ways. Your word will make me able to resist the desires of the sinful nature. Say more about that.
I mentioned that I must do two things if I want to live my life for you. Yes, you did. I have talked about living by your Spirit. At the same time that I am living by your Spirit I must also refrain from gratifying the desires of the sinful nature. Living by your Spirit and gratifying the desires of sinful are in opposition to each other. Yes, they are. How will you refrain from gratifying the desires of the sinful nature? In answer to your question I think of two words. I think of the words feast and famine. I will feast on your word and the new life in the Spirit that you have for me. I will put gratifying the desires of the sinful nature on a famine diet. How will you do that? As I am living my new life in the Spirit I will separate myself from anything and everything that feeds the desires of the sinful nature. Then I will live my life fully and completely for you. That will be very good.
Lord, I will separate myself from whatever feeds temptation and sinful desires within me. Instead I will take part in what helps me to live by the Spirit. For example, I will allow the Spirit to use your word to help me to stand against temptation and sinful desires. Amen
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