2023_05_05 Insight Post- Emma Keeton
This week’s reading- Deuteronomy 5-6, Galatians 5
What does life in the Holy Spirit look like? Galatians 5 gives an overview of the benefits of living in step with the Spirit. At every moment of our day, we have the freedom to be guided by God’s Spirit or go our own way. We can choose to walk in companionship with God or take a path of our own.
Galatians 5:1 shows the reality of our new Christian identity. If we believe the following verse, we are much more likely to choose Jesus than fall back into our old ways:
“For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
We don’t have to live under the slaveries of the past; the good news is that Christ has set us free. We are God’s sons and daughters who have been adopted and fully accepted. Although Paul acknowledges a war that can go on inside us:
“I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18
The freedom that exists when we are led by the Spirit supersedes the law that was given to Moses. If we are led by the Spirit, the law will be fulfilled. We don’t live under the law when we experience life in the Spirit, but instead, we can express the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. God’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control can always be an answer to the situations of our day. It will then be possible to “serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13
It’s time to be in awe of the possibilities of God’s power in our lives. We won’t get everything right, we can’t be perfect, but we can allow the Holy Spirit to change us gradually. Thought by thought and decision by decision.
If you feel like you don’t know the Holy Spirit’s transforming power, here is a prayer asking God’s Holy Spirit to lead and guide you.
Prayer
God, would you help me to believe that I am a new creation in Christ? The old me has gone, and the new me is led by the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, please help me to keep in step with you. Holy Spirit, fill my life to overflowing. Open my eyes to your way. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Emma Keeton
Prayer Team Lead