Galatians 5:16 - "This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh"
It is also one of the most useful!
As you study and learn more about the fundamental characteristics of human nature, you realize that our inherent self-interest can quickly lead us towards significant sinful behavior. This sinful behavior is often characterized as "living in the flesh".
For most of us, it is easy to see how our "fleshly" desires for money, food, and intimacy can guide us down dark paths. Small steps towards sin that we believe we can "control" can quickly spiral out of control.
Obvious examples include the pursuit of a promotion at work that leaves our family lonely at home without us... or a heartfelt conversation with an attractive coworker at that may lead to infidelity. Yes, small steps can quickly lead us down a slippery slope that is dangerous for our spiritual health. The decline is less about our strength to resist and more about the power of sin and the fundamentals of human nature.
So what tool do we have to recenter us QUICKLY on a "righteous" path?
The apostle Paul, in this verse in the book of Galatians provides a powerful answer. Walking in the Spirit is our goal!
I encourage you today to memorize this scripture (if you haven't already) so you can begin applying it at the earliest sign of sin across difficult areas in your life.
Of course, there are specific ways to "walk in the Spirit". In fact, Paul provides a list of characteristics later in this same chapter (Gal 5:22-23). We will cover these in a separate article...
For now, you can simply use this verse as a reminder to get back on the path of righteousness. We all have an internal moral compass to guide us, even without the greater knowledge, understanding, and wisdom we are routinely seeking.
Please share your own spiritual wins with this verse in the comments below!
