Monday, 6 June 2016
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25
Paul’s words here show that those who have received Christ now live in a different way than they did before receiving Him. Before we lived in the flesh; now we live by the Spirit. The word “by” seems to be a better translation of the Greek as it more properly shows the divide between the old life and the new. And so, “If we live [by] the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” It is an indication that we can, in fact, be saved and yet not live according to the manner in which we were called.
Instead of acting as if we are dead to sin because we have moved to Christ who fulfilled the law for us, we continue to live in sin. Paul now shows us that this is not the proper way to conduct ourselves.
Interestingly, he uses a completely different word for “walk” than that which he used in verse 5:16. There the word was used in an ethical sense. It was intended to show the conduct of our life. In this verse, he uses a word which means to walk in line as if in strict accordance to a particular pace. If we think of “keeping in step,” or “walking in cadence,” we get the idea of what Paul means. He uses the same word in a graphic way in Romans 4:12 concerning our following in the steps of Abraham. Paul is asking us to walk in cadence with the leading of the Spirit and not be diverted from that sound and reasonable path.
Life application: If one is in a military unit, he is expected to march according to the steps of that unit. It would be contrary to the discipline of the formation for everyone to walk to the beat of their own desires. Such is the case with walking in step with the Spirit. It is contrary to walk according to the works of the flesh when we have been called to walk in step with the Spirit.
Lord God, it is a marvelous thing to know that we have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. As we have, help us to walk in step with that calling now. Nobody in a military formation who walked contrary to the cadence of their unit would be pleasing to the commander of that unit. As this is true in an earthly organization, how much more should we walk according to leading of the Spirit! Help us in this, O Lord. And thank You for the life we truly have been called to! Amen.