“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”-Galatians 5:25
One of the truly remarkable gifts of God is that once we have put our trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit! God calls us to admit our sin, repent, turn to Christ, and be baptized. See Acts 2:38. We surrender ourselves fully to Him. Then, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. And He brings gifts!
What does the Holy Spirit bring into our lives? He gives us Himself, which is the best! He distributes spiritual gifts in each of us, too (1 Corinthians 12:7). He also starts to do really transformational work in us. Suddenly, we start producing what God calls the "fruit of the Spirit.” This fruit means we will be growing in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). God produces this fantastic fruit in us. We are to cooperate, following His leading. In fact, we are now instructed to “keep in step with the Spirit.” Let’s re-read Galatians 5:25 which says: “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” God wants to work in us and through us now. Amazing! He wants to literally take over every area of our lives. We are to follow! Are we following? Are we pursuing the Spirit’s leading with all we are each day?
We know that the Holy Spirit has a very special role in our lives because Jesus told us so. In John 16:5-15, we can read all about what Jesus said. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, God’s righteousness, and coming judgement. The Holy Spirit gives us insight into the future. He guides us into all truth, reminding us of what Jesus said. No wonder God instructed Paul to remind the early Christians, and ultimately every Christian, to follow the Spirit in every part of our lives.
We may now be prompted by the Spirit to serve someone today, somehow, as God leads. He may give us a sense at work, school, home, the coffee shop...that we should do something kind for another. The Holy Spirit will now nudge us to pray for someone, to give a loving phone call or send a gracious text. He will stir us to invite another to church or to our house to show some hospitality and point them to Jesus. We will have conviction in our spirit when we do something contrary to what honors God. God lives in us now! He’s in Charge of our lives. So, let’s pay close attention to the Spirit’s leading. He indwells us and wants to work through us. If you are prompted to say something, do something, or not do something in Christ’s name, and it lines up with Scripture…LET IT RIP! Let's follow as He guides. This is following the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. And what a joy it is!
Godspeed, friends!
-Scott