Daily Word
A word of encouragement for your day.
WALK IN THE SPIRIT! (3)
"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ..till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting…."
As born-again people, we have two possibilities, two crucial choices, before us:
To “live according to the flesh” – or – to “be led by the Spirit of God”!
But we must first realize, understand and apply two important things:
First: “we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.”
Why is that?
The all-dominant driving force of the carnal life has been put out of action!
When?
On the cross.
Second: we must “by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body.”
What does that mean?
A constant “no” to every temptation, desire and wrong self-gratification that arises in us and a constant “yes” to every admonition and prompting of the Holy Spirit.
But there are two more things we must realize and understand – two extremely serious and crucial things:
One: if we “live according to the flesh we will die.”
“Die”?
How then?
Spiritually!
What does that mean?
That we lose the most precious thing we have ever received: our spiritual life!
Two: “if we are led by the Spirit, we will live” as true children of God – as sons of God, that is, as mature Christians.
So, it is all about spiritual maturity – growing up to the “fullness of Christ”, so that we are no longer “children tossed to and fro” – not only by false teachings, but above all by our impulses, the demands and pressures of our surroundings and the cunning “letter-dropping” of the manipulative, invisible spiritual powers.
Again: have you allowed the Spirit of God to lead you through the process to the victorious walk in the Spirit?