Read: Galatians 5:16-25
“Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit.” – Galatians 5:25
The rest of the world scoffs
at Christianity, because, in many cases, those who claim the name of Christ
often live more ungodly lives than unbelievers do! There are false confessors
in the Christian ranks. They prayed a prayer, but they do not obey God or live
according to His principles (James 1:22). If nothing changes in us and
if we are still drawn away from God by the power of sin, we are not truly Born
Again. Our flesh is still in control and we are lost and under the power of
Satan and his demonic forces.
In addition, there are
actual Christians who fail to translate what they learn into motivation for
their actions. We spend countless hours listening to sermons and attending
Bible studies. We fill our libraries with teaching books on various Biblical
topics, attend Bible studies almost every day of the week, listen to Christian
radio and TV; yet, we fail to walk in the truth that we learn. God calls us as
His disciples, so we will make disciples from all nations (Matthew
28:19).
If we are only talking
spiritual rhetoric and not walking in spiritual reality, we cannot make
disciples. We have to believe truth before we can teach it, and walk in love
before we can preach it (John 13:34; Ephesians 3:17-19). God exhorts us not only to listen to and read His
Word, but also to do what it says. If we hear and do not act upon what we
learn, we are deceiving ourselves (James 1:22). One reason this is true is that people mistakenly
think that praying a prayer is all we need for salvation. When someone as big
as God moves in, our life is going to change (2 Corinthians 5:17)!
God created us in Christ
Jesus to fulfill His calling for our life and to do the works, which He
prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). He wipes the slate of our past clean and he wants to
create a masterpiece out of our future. The Holy Spirit cultivates His fruit in
the soil of our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). When we come to the Light, we live by the truth and
the works of God are accomplished through us (John 3:21).
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, urge us to live a life worthy of Your calling (Ephesians 4:1) Remind us to take off the old man of sin and to put on the new self, created in Christ Jesus for righteous living (Ephesians 4:22-24). Radically transform us by baptism into Your death (Romans 6:3-4). This way we can be raised with You from the dead by the Glory of the Father to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). Let us live before the whole world as examples of a life changed by the power of Your Spirit. Help us to follow in Your footsteps, live according to Your principles and follow the leading of Your Spirit moment by moment throughout the day.
Thought for the Day:
God
calculates our spirituality not by the amount of Biblical knowledge we retain,
but by how well we walk in His Truth and Love (3
John 1:4; Psalm 86:11).
