But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (ESV)

The Holy Spirit as a person of the Trinity exists as God and coexists with the Father and the Son (Jesus Christ) together in the unity of truth. Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to carry out his work of making disciples in each of us and of those that we interact with. The Holy Spirit helps us understand Jesus’ teachings, makes us aware of his presence, confronts us in our sin, and invites us into the fullness of life in Christ. We can bring the Holy Spirit and Jesus joy by acknowledging him and heeding his call – by walking in the Spirit. In fact, we cannot emulate Jesus without the Holy Spirit.  

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Today’s verse creates a dichotomy between our human nature and the new life that we are called to live in Christ. It posits walking in the Spirit against carrying out the desires of the flesh. It presents an “either-or” argument that you are either walking in the Spirit, or you are doing the things that you please – the desires of the flesh. Paul warns that those who practice the desires of the flesh will not inherit the Kingdom of God. However, walking in the Spirit results in the Fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (v. 22-23).

By our human nature – by our instinct – we walk at a distance from God. We have a natural tendency to drift away from God and to be independent, but God tells us through the Holy Spirit to “stop it, and face me.” Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he calls us back to himself. He calls us to be an image of Christ in this life on Earth.

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Our human nature lures us away from God, which will always require a journey back to God while we are still on this earth. We will continue to struggle with that nature. There is hope though. The Holy Spirit does not only convict us where we are in our spiritual proximity to God; he reminds of God’s wonderful love, his holiness, his redemptive power, and gives us a glorious model of transformation that only a God-centered life on this earth can provide. It is a beautiful balance of tension between living the life that we have been given and choosing Jesus.  

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Are you taking the power and the work of the Holy Spirit in your life seriously? Walking in the Spirit sounds very heavy and costly. It sounds painful and uncomfortable but radically reshaping in the best ways! But is it too costly? Jesus provides comfort for that weariness in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” By God’s grace, in Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, and through the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives we can learn to do it, and do it with in the joy of a new life closer to the Father and the Son.

Lord, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit as our Helper. We ask forgiveness for where we have failed to follow. We ask that you soften our hearts to hear, to discern the things that are right, to reject the desires of the flesh, and comfort us as we strive to walk in the Spirit. Holy Spirit, radically transform us. Help us to see and use us to further your Kingdom on Earth. All these things we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!