GALATIANS 5:25

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

TO PONDER

Do you live by the Spirit? That's a confronting question for many Christians if we are to take it seriously. Because it is not just asking, as many pentecostal or charismatic movements do, "have you been born again in the Spirit?" or "Have you received the gift of tongues?" and it's not just asking, as we might in the Lutheran church, "have you been baptised". All of these kinds of questions refer to one-off events, a particular ceremony or prayer or act, carried out at a particular point in time.

What we are being confronted with here is the question, "who is living and directing your life? Is it you, or is it the Holy Spirit of God?" This is a question of the present and the future, not the past. What drives the decisions and choices you will make today? Is it the Holy Spirit or the selfish desires of your heart?

This reading from Galatians makes it pretty clear that receiving the Spirit and 'staying in step' with the Spirit are not the same thing. We live by the Spirit - this is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus and not something that we do ourselves and involves no choice on our part. However, remaining in step with the new life we have in the Spirit, now that's a daily choice and one even Martin Luther recognised that we have to make every day - the choice to 'live daily in our baptism'.

So what step is the Holy Spirit calling you to take next?

PRAYER: Loving Heavenly Father, you are the giver of all good things among which is the gift of Holy Spirit. Forgive me for the times I refuse to acknowledge Holy Spirit's prompting or leading and I fail to stay 'in step'. You are the Lord of the Dance, teach me the steps that you want me to take and help me to confidently stay in step with you. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle