Live
By The Spirit
Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not
gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the
Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are
opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are
led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh
are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery,
enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy,
drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned
you before: those who do such things will not inherit the
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to
Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live
by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited,
competing against one another, envying one another.
The appetites of the world and the
flesh are powerful and addictive tools of the devil. He appeals to our love for
what satisfies our selfish and sinful desires and uses it to tempt, control,
discourage, defeat, and destroy us. We crave power or money or food or alcohol,
or sex or clothes, even though we risk losing our friends, family, and even our
personal relationship with our Savior.
Put on the
Lord and walk in the Spirit.
God provides
the armor to withstand temptation,
but we must put it
on.
Our Daily
Bread –