October 4, 2024

Galatians 5:16-26  (HCSB)
The Spirit versus the Flesh
16 I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. 26 We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Susan Jones
Things look pretty clear to me after I read this. What about you? There are two options of ways to live laid out here and God even gives us the outcome of each so we can make an educated decision. Choice #1 –Live by our sinful nature and all of the outcomes are bad and ultimately result in destruction. Choice #2 –Live by the Spirit and we have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It should be a super easy choice!! But some of us still choose to live by our sinful nature at times. It never ends well. We have to crucify our passions (sinful nature) to His cross and crucify (leave) them there (v. 24). Don’t pick your sin up and put it back on today. Leave it hanging there on the cross with Jesus covering it. This will make it possible to be a “living and holy sacrifice that is pleasing to God” (just to remind us of how the week started). If you chose wrong yesterday, you have a new opportunity in front of you today. What choice are you making today?