Galatians 5:16 - So I say, live by the Spirit

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16

Commentary

How many times have we made New Year resolutions only to find ourselves discouraged by the 2nd week (maybe even the 2nd day!). Every New Year we intend to stop this or lose that - so much so that we resign ourselves each year to making a list with the assumption that we won't keep it. But the apostle Paul gives us an important hint in what it takes to truly change: we don't make a decision to keep away from the desires of our sinful nature, we make a decision to live by the Spirit! We need to focus our gaze on where we want to go instead of looking at what we want to avoid. Let's start this New Year by taking our gaze off of our weaknesses and refocus it on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. When we do, we find that He can change us more than our resolutions!

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC