Galatians 5:16-17 – “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 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.”

What does it mean to walk by the Spirit?  If it is the means by which we can put to death the deeds of the flesh, and grow in our sanctification it’s a very important question.  I will try to explain that some from scripture, but maybe before we come to answer that question, we have to ask ourselves another question first – do I have a genuine desire for righteousness?

Apathy in the heart of a believer is as dangerous as outright rebellion against God.  In Revelation 3:15-16 God says – “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”  This is the great danger of religious morality – that we can over time, work ourselves to look better than most of the people around us, and fall into apathy about personal righteousness, drifting from the faith and dependancy on Christ in which we began.  A better way to ask this question to ourselves is “Does my love for God compel me to desire greater personal holiness and obedience to God daily?”  Religious morality will only sanctify you to look better than most of the people around you, but it will never save you.  Does your heart, out of a response to the cross, desire personal holiness?  If you lack that desire, pray for it, and be encouraged, God will run to meet you in that prayer wherever you’re at (Luke 15).  For those for whom righteousness is the desire of your heart, be encouraged, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Matt 5:6)

Now that was a big opening to explain one thing which is often misunderstood, walking by the Spirit is not a primarily a matter of outward actions, but an inward matter of the heart.  It begins with a heart that is transfixed on the cross, lost in awesome wonder at a perfect God of love, the Holy One of God, Jesus, who absorbed the wrath of God for the very people who mocked Him, and purchased with His blood the reconciliation of sinners to God.  The heartbeat of a Christian is Christ, and our justification through His death, burial, and resurrection.  Walking by the Spirit is a heart that is at peace, fulfilled, and joyful; at want for nothing beyond Christ, and at peace knowing that all that He is, is ours already.  That heart, a heart that sees the infinite value of Jesus, the worth of the Righteous One, will have an passion for His glory.  Walking in the Spirit is the overflow of that heart.  Walking in the Spirit, is a heart that pursues God in His Word, to know Him, desiring to conform our hearts and minds into His image.  Walking in the Spirit is living in the light, confessing sin to others, so that we know more of the glory of God  with our lives.  Walking in the Spirit is a heart that rejoices, thanking God for all that He has accomplished and granted us through Christ.  Walking in the Spirit is prayerful and dependant, that God’s will would be accomplished in our lives because of our love for Him.  Walking in the Spirit is a fullness of joy in the love of God, and that love overflowing to others, to love others as Christ loves us.  Walking in the Spirit is a heart that prays expectantly of our future hope “One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

In full confidence of the Word of God and the Spirit, I’ll tell you taht there is no greater joy than to walk by the Spirit, to have a heart that is joyfully obedient to the Lord.  ANY decision apart from the Spirit’s leading is to our own detriment, no matter what that may look like.  Even if that means a decision that means you will starve, you will starve with joy, knowing a greater hope awaits you for eternity.  If you make a decision to eat for the next 70 years, you will starve for the want of the joy of knowing God for those years, and starved of his presence for eternity.  My exhortation is make your heart fully God’s.  Return your heart to be like a child when you first stood in awe of the God of your salvation.  Slow your heart to rest in awe of Jesus, the cross, and your reconciliation to God. Walk by the Spirit, and live boldly in the shadow of the cross.

Grace and Peace,
Adam