“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
(Galatians 5:16, ESV)
Once time I was teaching a seminary class on Systematic Theology. The particular lesson was on the theology of the Holy Spirit. I happened to site Galatians chapter 5 verse 16 in the class. I phrased it this way, “If you walk by the Spirit, you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.”
Following this statement, one of the students asked this question. “Then is God asking us to do something that is impossible to do?” His point was well taken. Here, as the NIV 1984 paraphrases it, the “flesh” refers to the “sinful nature” and thus, walking by the Spirit would keep one from sinning.
My reply to him was, “Yes and know.” Yes, it is possible to keep from sin if we have a perfect and continuous walk by the Spirit. However, from a practical standpoint, we as people do not perfectly walk by the Spirit all the time. Quite often we relapse into the flesh. It is then that we mess up and sin.
Let me give you a simple example. When I drive down the highway, sometimes another driver will cut me off or not let me merge into traffic. It seems that common courtesy has been forgotten in the “every man for himself” world in which we live. So, what do I do? In the old days there were certain gestures that I would make or engage in some passive aggressive behavior. God’s grace has generally taken me past this. However, my thoughts often get the best of me. I have less than good thoughts towards that driver. Thus, while driving down the road peaceably in the Spirit, of a sudden I have jumped my heart into the flesh. I do not think I am alone in this.
Now this heartfelt attitude of rage towards another is not right. It is something in me that is covered by God’s grace and mercy. Moreover, it is something that by His grace, the Holy Spirit is working to correct in me. So, I confess such an attitude and purpose anew in my heart not to allow the flesh to control my attitudes towards another again.
Here is the truth regarding this verse of Scripture. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16, ESV). In this verse, the verb translated as “walk” is a present tense imperative. It is a command and not an option or suggestion. Moreover, as it is in the present tense, it is a command to be carried out continuously or habitually. We, as believers have a command to continuously endeavor to walk by the Spirit.
Yes, there are many times when we will struggle with this. I’ll get into that in the next devotional. However, let us, who are believers, endeavor to walk by the Spirit every day so that we will not gratify the sinful desires of the flesh. This is the key to living in freedom and experiencing victory over sin which can so easily entangle us.
Renewing the Heart 