Daily Devotional in Galatians 5

Daily Nugget:
A Christian may be saved on the inside, but he must still fight the temptations of the flesh
— until the day he dies! Paul gives the only solution for keeping the sin-seeking human nature, that we were born with, at bay. That temptation-resisting advice is “… Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (vs. 16) To avoid life-controlling temptations, and often the life-ruining consequences they bring, be wary of where suggestions to do something arise from; do they come from the indwelling Holy Spirit, or are they a desire to just do whatever feels good from the one’s flesh?

For those that may have not been able to discern what was of the flesh, Paul gave a clear explanation of some of “works of the flesh”. They were: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness (“lustfulness and indulgences of animal desires”), idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (“disputing that causes disagreement, discord, and dissensions”), emulations (“contentions”), wrath, strife, seditions (“causing commotion”), heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like …” (vss. 19-21). His checklist should make it easy for one to evaluate if a behavior or feeling one is having is the old sin-nature controlling a person.

The preacher also listed some of the things that, if one was doing them, that person would be able to tell that if Holy Spirit were involved. The old nature would have nothing to do with committing these activities so one could know that God’s Spirit was probably involved in them. The “fruit of the Spirit” included: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (vs. 22-23).

If we are able to detect what we are involved in or are feeling is of God, we will find that we will seldom face temptation’s grasp (vs. 25). If one keeps far from the edge of sin, they will rarely be in any danger of falling over the edge! Obey the Spirit, and one will not give the sin-desiring flesh any control.

Today’s Thought: If everyone is doing it, you probably shouldn’t be! — Barbara Brinkworth

Today’s Reading: Galatians 5
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
13 ¶ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (KJV)