How's Your Walk?

"But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh." Galatians 5:16

We live in a world where we really don't walk to get to where we are heading.  Most of us take cars, buses, motorcyles, trains or even bicycles.  In the first century, however, they walked.  Whether someone was going to the market or traveling to another region of the country the method of transportation was walking.  Therefore when "walking" is discussed in Galatians Paul is referring to the journey of one's life.

So when Paul encourages the Galatians to walk by the Spirit he was letting them know that in their journey they needed to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than their selfish desires.  Paul argues that as a believer one can either journey with the Holy Spirit or journey with one's selfish desires but not both.  They are two different roads.  When a believer is living for themselves then they cannot journey in obedience to the Spirit's leading.  On the other hand, when a believer is obedient to the directives of the Spirit then one cannot engage in sin.  

Most Christians I know are plagued by falling into one of two categories.  Either (A): they struggle with the fact that as a believer in Christ they still repetitively commit the same sins over and over with no hope of ever changing or (B) they consider sin such a natural part of their life that they just don't worry about it.  Both options leave the believer missing out on experiencing the fullness of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

While it is true we cannot get rid of our sin nature until we meet the Lord, we no longer have to sin.  God hates sin and gave us the Holy Spirit to indwell us and guide us so that we could live in the way that is pleasing to the Lord.  Therefore it is important for us to seek God in His Word, prayer, worship and fellowship with other believers.  These disciplines help us to align with Holy Spirit's work in our lives and provides us with strength during times of temptation and difficulty.

So how is you walk?  Are you on a journey with the Lord that is empowered by the Spirit?  If not, you can begin right now.  Go before the Lord and tell him of your desire to follow Him.  If He convicts you of sin confess it and receive his promise of forgiveness (1 John 1:9).  Then make a point to seek the Lord daily as He leads your life.