Introduction
Galatians 5:16–26: In today’s reading, Paul tells the Galatians to let the Spirit direct their lives. He compares what human nature does with what the Spirit produces.
Today’s Key Verse: Galatians 5:22–23a GNT
The Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control.
Read
16 What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature. 17 For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do. 18 If the Spirit leads you, then you are not subject to the Law.
19 What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itself in immoral, filthy, and indecent actions; 20 in worship of idols and witchcraft. People become enemies and they fight; they become jealous, angry, and ambitious. They separate into parties and groups; 21 they are envious, get drunk, have orgies, and do other things like these. I warn you now as I have before: those who do these things will not possess the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires. 25 The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives. 26 We must not be proud or irritate one another or be jealous of one another.
Reflect
Compare the list of behaviors in verses 19–21 with those in verses 22 and 23. How does Paul contrast the workings of the Spirit with human nature? In what ways does the Spirit direct your life?
Pray
Spirit of God, produce in me love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. Guide me to live as a child of God. These things I ask in Jesus’s holy name. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Galatians 6:1–18: Paul gives the Galatians instructions for living in community.
