Galatians 5:16–26 (ESV)
Keep in Step with the Spirit
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit
are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works
of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies,
and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness,
self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in
step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
This passage tells us
to live by the Spirit, not by the flesh. Too often, the focus is on what not to do than what to do. I mean, we should all know what we are not supposed to do, but at the same time we should focus on what we should do. The Bible states: “22 But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to 25 If
we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Our motivation is not the law, but the love of Christ and what he has done for us. Help us to focus on Christ.
I pray: O Lord, help me to flee from the ways of the flesh and the ways of the world. Help us to focus on Jesus Christ… and to live by the Spirit. Amen.