Student Devotionals
Galatians 5:16
We all crave life filled with joy and peace. But one of the greatest obstacles that Christians face is the ongoing temptations to sin. The battle against temptation can be a very lonely and exhausting experience. But there is hope! The Christian life was never meant to be quarantined from the Holy Spirit’s loving and empowering presence. In Galatians 5:16, we learn the answer for overcoming sin and transformation in Christ. The answer is simple: “Walk by the Spirit!”
What does this mean?
We first must understand that just as was prophesied by Ezekiel the prophet in Ezekiel 36:26-27, God gives disciples of Jesus a new heart and a new spirit within them. God promises, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”
It’s very good news that God gives us His Spirit to help us because biblical history is full of examples of people who failed in their relationship with God. Yesterday, as I was reading the Bible, I came across the very sad and sobering account of King Amon. The Bible records that “He abandoned the LORD, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the LORD.” (2 Kings 21:22) Wow…what a horrible thing to have recorded about one’s life!
This could happen to anyone. Refusing to walk in the Spirit means rejecting the Lord, leading to self-dependency, pride, and the insidious, yet subtle belief that one knows better than God.
This is scary stuff that should get our attention. However, I want to encourage you! The good news for Christians is that as God’s children, He has given us His Spirit! We’re not left alone to try and live the Christian life in our own power. If we were, we would never be able to do it. If you are a follower of Jesus, the Spirit God inclines your heart to walk in God’s ways (Ezekiel 36:26-27). This is miraculous and supernatural. The Spirit now gives you a stronger desire for God Himself, a stronger appetite for the Word of God, a stronger appetite for righteousness, a stronger appetite for purity, and a stronger desire for holiness. There is less and less regard for the flesh, and sin begins to look less appealing.
Does that describe your experience? If not, why not take a moment and pray about that? God is kind. God is merciful. He will certainly help! And be encouraged…this doesn’t happen all at once. God is at work to continue to make us more like Christ over our whole lives. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
However, while the Spirit does all of these things in our lives, Paul still reminds us in Galatians 5:16 that we have a responsibility to choose to actively “walk in the Spirit.” Let me offer two thoughts for how you can do that this week:
First, you can walk by the Spirit through surrender and obedience. Walking by the Spirit isn’t only for that time you surrendered your life to Christ unto salvation. Nor is walking by the Spirit surrender only for today. We must understand that walking by the Spirit is a “life” of surrender. Surrender looks like giving up on your stubborn, selfish, sinful way of doing life. Why? Because God has destined you for so much more! God has redeemed you to be in relationship with Himself and God desires to produce in you the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Not my will,” Jesus said, “but yours, be done.” (Lk 22:42) That’s how we begin to walk by the Spirit, through surrendering.
So let me ask you, is there something during this season that you need to surrender to God, or an area of your life where you know you need to obey him? If so, please be encouraged! The fact that you recognize this is evidence that the Spirit is within you and helping you to grow in your walk with the Lord. Commit right now to being obedient to God, and trust that God will help you this week to follow-through on that desire.
Second, you can walk by the Spirit by reminding yourself of the Spirit’s presence in your life. How many of you have been walking more regularly around your neighborhood or area during this season of quarantine? I know I have! One of the things I love to do during this time of quarantine is taking walks with my wife and daughter. Spending time together. Sharing and pouring out that which has been on our hearts minds.
When you walk by the Spirit, you’re walking with your best friend. You are walking with your trusted and best counselor. But you are also walking with Almighty God Himself! You are walking with the one who gives you life and breath. You are walking with the one who convicts your heart to turn you from sin, to repent, and turn to Christ for true life. You are walking with the one who raised Christ Jesus from the dead. When you walk by the Spirit, you are not alone. And so you don’t have to overcome sin by your own strength or power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. You can crucify the flesh with its desires because He who is in you, gives you new and stronger inclinations to resist temptation and live unto righteousness before our holy God.
If you want help with thinking deeply about God’s Word, then keep checking back each day in this devotional series. We’ll have a fresh devotional for you tomorrow.
God bless you,
Rich Hung
California State Director
National School Project