Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is opposed to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
Galatians 5:16-17
When I was a child I loved to pretend I was a character from the latest big screen action films or Saturday morning cartoons. My new identity allowed me to fly a space ship amongst the stars or stand against some unjust gang bent on world domination. However, the time would always come for my mom to call me back to reality. My real identity included taking out the trash, cleaning my room, or washing the dishes. This was not the identity of a Star Warrior (at least not on the big screen).
Paul encourages the churches of Galatia to live by the Spirit that is given to them as followers of Jesus Christ. Yet these church members are having trouble accepting this identity due to the reality they face every day. Jesus is gone. He is not here. So how do we live according to an identity we cannot see and probably never witnessed personally?
The Holy Spirit is often characterized as the wind throughout Scripture. West Texans know how to pattern there lives around wind better than anyone. We have often changed our plans according to how hard the wind is going to blow. In the same way, the Apostle Paul encourages the Galatians to live and move with the spiritual wind blowing through their life rather than opposing it. But there is a risk; we don’t know where the wind might take us. Take a bold risk this week and enjoy the journey.
Jonathan Sullivan is the Pastor at First Baptist Church, 1201 Western Circle Dr., in Dimmitt, Texas. Small groups meet on Sunday morning at 9:30 and Worship is at 8:30am and 10:30. Check us out at fbcdimmitt.com for more events and times. You belong at FBC.