Day 22

Living by the Spirit’s Power . . . that's the topic for today.

"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another."

Well then. Thank God that cross with Jesus on it was included in the last paragraph, and, as if that wasn't enough, He also gave us a TOTALLY undeserved gift of the Spirit to lead us, guide us, and direct us. Cause otherwise, WE'D BE SCREWED!! Sorry if that language offends you, but really, it's the tamest words that adequately describe where we'd be without Jesus dying on the cross for us. I seriously wonder if anyone allows the Holy Spirit to control them! You just read the list produced by the sinful nature, and I can't think of one person who doesn't struggle with this on a daily basis, including me. Let's see, just today I had to deal with envy, division, outbursts of anger, dissension, quarreling, and impurity, and all that was just before noon. See, it NEVER goes away. Did I act on all those? No, but they were right there just waiting for me, and honestly, it wasn't a big struggle or surprise when they showed up. Sadly, I did act on some of them. So OBVIOUSLY I have not given the Holy Spirit full control. It's that "I don't do what I want to do, and I do what I don't want to do" thing that Paul talks about all over the book of Romans. ARGHHH!!! It requires a second by second commitment, and a keen awareness of what my thoughts and actions are, and obediently turning them over to the Spirit as soon as they enter my awareness.

I think so often we get focused on the "fruits of the Spirit" in our lives (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, and we think that since some of these exist, or we displayed that particular trait that one time, that we're in the clear and got the Spirit controlling us thing covered. And probably, that one time, yes, we got out of the way to let the Spirit work. But one or two or fifty times isn't enough. I want that to be my lifestyle . . . always. As "redeemed" Christians (including me), we so easily forget the sin that once entangled us and are quick to point the sin out in others, that we don't even realize that by doing that, we're going right back to our own sinful natures. It's a cycle that goes round and round and round. And we shouldn't be surprised by it. These verses tell us that "these two forces (Spirit and flesh) are constantly fighting each other".

I also think that the lines at the end of the chapter are often neglected: "let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another." I don't know why, but we Christians have a tendency to do this, not only to non-believers, but to each other . . . in the worst way. We look down on other churches. We question motives. We spread rumors, not intentionally, but because we don't stop them. When we hear testimony, we question whether it's legit. We almost require a 10-step hoop-jumping circus before we believe God is actually at work in people's lives. But we expect people to believe He's at work in our own at the drop of a hat. It's weird. It's shameful. It's fleshy. And it's all over me. I want to live in freedom. Others want to live in freedom. Christ died to set us all free.

If we're serious about being controlled by the Spirit, we've got to practice not doing these things. And it won't be easy. In fact, what will be easy is cutting, crippling, judging, and paralyzing. Giving life, hope, and encouragement, and freedom is the hardest thing there is. That's why Jesus asked it to be taken from Him. He knew what it would cost Him. Not just anyone can do it. Only those who intentionally, purposefully, obediently, and daily seek to be transformed from the inside out by the Spirit of a Holy God, will be able to have the power to give love, bring joy, grant peace, have patience, be kind, seek goodness, pursue faithfulness, administer gentleness, and practice self-control. Thank God for the Cross, and for the Holy Spirit!