Galatians 5:25: If we live in the spirit, let us keep step with the spirit.
This is Arvell Craig with the Monday Morning Devo for March 23, 2015.
Today we discuss the same verse from last week, Galatians 5:25, but we’ll deal with the second part. The verse reads, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
I really love the way this verse illustrates an active relationship with God. First off, we are admonished to keep in step with the Spirit of God. This would of course imply that the spirit is moving, he is active. And it is our job, it is up to us, to both recognize where God is, what he is doing, and actively join with him, Walk with him and stick by his side.
When I think about keeping in step with someone, I automatically will also think about a dance. A 2-step, a waltz, a tango. Or maybe ballroom, salsa or a detroit hustle line dance.
I really believe that as we keep in step with the spirit, there will be variations in how we walk. Perhaps there are times when the spirit is running, and so we run with him. Maybe he climbs maybe he dances. And even, sometimes, like the famous poem of the footprints in the sand, he will actually just be carrying us.
No matter how you look at it, you must appreciate the fact that our relationship with God, if healthy will be active. We can’t live by yesterdays manna, we can’t be stuck in a word or picture of God from 2008. We need to see where he is today, or for this season in our life.
In the Bible, we see in Matthew 4, the Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness in which he is temped by the devil.
In John 5:19, Jesus says he only does what he sees that Father doing. Yes, Jesus is our perfect example of what it means to live by the Spirit and keep in step by the Spirit.
And so, when we also see Jesus hanging out with hooker, how else can we interpret his actions other than he saw the Father going there, his walk with the spirit took him there as well.
So let me encourage you this week:
To some of you who are listening to this message, God is wanting you to go some places that may be a bit unorthodox; perhaps different from what you are use to. But like Paul says in Hebrews 5:11-12, God cannot take you some places or teach you certain things because of your immaturity. He wants to feed you meat but you are stuck on milk. Or I would put it like this… God cannot take you salsa dancing, if we cannot walk. If we can’t daily keep in step with the basics.
So, Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, would you help us keep in step with you. Help us to be consistent and mature and be strengthened in our ability to discern good from evil, good from great, and from human greatness to what brings you glory.
In Jesus Name. Amen.