Galatians 5:16-26

Hey church family! 
Since we cannot meet in person I wanted to give a devotional in the place of Wednesday night church. We are almost through with Galatians and I don’t want to wait to finish it!  If you have not been with us on Wednesday’s for our Galatians study you will do fine to jump right in with us for the last chapter and half! 

Read Galatians 5:16-26 in your own Bible or online by clicking this link: (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A16-26&version=ESV)
Paul has made it clear to this point in the book that those who are in Christ have been set free from the law and set free from sin.  Meaning that we are not required to obey the law for salvation because as Paul has already stated “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” (‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2:21‬ ‭ESV‬‬) We have also been set free from sin, meaning we have the ability to repent and turn from sin (Galatians 5:1)!  Apart from Christ this is impossible (Romans 8:7, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Ephesians 2:1-3). 

Paul tells us in v.16-17 to “walk by the Spirit” because the Spirit and the flesh(sin) are opposed to each other.  If we truly want to experience, here on earth, the freedom that Christ gave us, then we must walk by the Spirit! How do we walk in the spirit then?  

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

If we are to learn to walk in the Spirit we must lean into the Word of God, belong to and serve the church, and seek the Lord in prayer. Keeping our eyes on the things above (Colossians 1:2).  

Paul tells us the dangers of continuing to walk in the flesh. 

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 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.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:19-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

No one really has to tell you that the activities listed above rob us of joy.  The flesh lies to us and in the moment these things may even bring temporary pleasure. But in the long run these things all lead to pain and ultimately death. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

These things are truly good!  These things lead to real joy and real pleasure.  These things come directly from the Spirit and not by us. No human can truly experience these things except by walking with the Spirit. 

Lean into the Spirit, dive into the Word, and trust in the Lord.