Daily Reading: 5-12-16
Galatians 5:16-25 New Living Translation
Humans may have the greatest of intentions to accomplish really good things for God and still fall short or fail. We can accept the work of Christ on the cross and receive his forgiveness and still find ourselves struggling to stay faithful or fruitful. Sometimes we fail because the things we intend to accomplish are not God’s plan or desire for us. Because God has given us the ability to choose our path, we may find our personal desires are in conflict with God’s desires for His Kingdom people. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual realm where righteousness, peace and joy have dominion; King Jesus is the Ruler. Sometimes we fall short of manifesting good things that reveal God’s Kingdom, because we just don’t possess the character endurance to press on when things become more difficult for us. God understands our dilemma and has provided a way.
We must remember there is a gap that was formed by sin between our natural intentions and manifestation of the Good that pleases God; that gap needs to be filled with spiritual substance and power that comes from outside our own energy and ability. The Apostle Paul reminds us that Person of substance or Helper with power we need is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is the perfect One to fill, motivate, and guide believers to accomplish what God desires for our lives; what God determines is Good for us as His children.
Living by the Spirit’s Power
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
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.
This Scripture helps us distinguish between the intentions of our flesh and the intentions of the Spirit. If we live by the Spirit, we will not manifest the intentions of our sinful nature. If we desire to walk in oneness with God each day, we need to live by the Spirit’s power. Then, we will truly manifest the Good that God intends for us as His children.
Prayer: Father, it is my intention and desire to manifest Your Love in the power of the Spirit, today. Fill me to overflowing with the joy of my salvation, the righteousness that is my inheritance for accepting Jesus, and the peace that passes anything this world has to offer. Spirit, please give me wisdom to recognize the difference between what my flesh wants to manifest and what you desire to produce in and through me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.