The New Testament Challenge Companion--Day 29!

Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 Reading for the Day:  Luke 8 and Gal. 4-6 Focus on Gal. 5:16-18

Galatians 5:16-18 is such a powerful passage!  We are all painfully aware that even when Jesus is our Savior and Lord, we find it difficult to do God’s will.  The Apostle Paul helps us see why in these important verses:  ¹⁶So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. ¹⁷The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. ¹⁸But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law. As you see, even after we have been born again the old sinful nature still exists within us.  That nature craves sin.  The Holy Spirit craves good.  The battle inside us is intense, and Paul tells us that these two forces are constantly fighting each other.  He also tells us that our choices are “never free from this conflict.”  Every choice we will ever make results in a conflict of wills—the will of the flesh or the will of God.  That may not sound like good news, but here’s the good news:  THE WILL OF GOD ALWAYS PREVAILS when we are directed by the Holy Spirit.   WHEN are we directed by the Holy Spirit?  Here’s the really good news:  every time we want to be directed by Him!  We have “control” over the conflict of wills within us, not because we can overcome sin in our lives---but because the Holy Spirit CAN!  The choice for us is simple:  GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT CONTROL!  Once we do that we win.  Until we do that we lose.  So, do we want to win or lose the battle going on inside of us, because Paul tells us the choice is ours!

Heavenly Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may be directed by Him throughout the day.  I give up control of my sinful flesh to You!  Glorify Yourself in me today with every choice I make.  Let me directed by the Holy Spirit so not only will I not be subject to the law, but so that I will be victorious over the sin that clings so closely in my life. This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.