Galatians 5
vs 1. For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore, and don't submit again to the yoke of slavery.
13. For you were called to freedom, brothers.
16. But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
In the card Steve gave me at DTS graduation he included Galatians 5:1 and talked about how he felt that God was saying thta freedom in an area that God has blessed me in and I exemplify freedom (after writing this I went home and found the card and his exact words were: One of the great things God has put in you is freedom. This is not to say you will always feel that way, but it is in you more than most.) I found it very interesting because I don't feel free most of the time. I feel bound in insecurity and lies. I feel bound and enslaved to the fear of man and to sin.
I was struck by verse 16. We are constantly asking how to be free from sin and the answer is found here: walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. That is what most sin is, especially sexual sin: a gratification of the desires of the flesh. Verse 17 says, "for the desired of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh."
But how does one "walk by the Spirit'? When I think of this I am reminded of Ephesians and the "five walks" in chapters 4 and 5. "Walk in a manner worthy of the calling", "walk in truth", "walk in love", "walk as children of light", and "walk as wise."
I don't know if this is the best theological answer to the question of how to walk in the Spirit, but it's a good place to start, I suppose. So, in light of the topic of walking in the Spirit so as not to gratify desires of the flesh, what do each of these look like and why might they help?
First I think it is helpful to keep in mind the context in which Paul was speaking to the Galationas (and the Ephesians as well).
In Galations Paul was addressing the issue of circumcision and the people who were telling the Gentile believers that in order to be saved they must believe in Christ AND follow Jewish law including being circumcised. Paul was saying this was not only wrong, but it was nullifying the Gospel and leading people back into slavery.
So, walking in the Spirit is walking in freedom and it's about grace through faith, not works.
In Ephesians there are similar themes. The main theme of this book is power. In chapter 2 Paul speaks agian on the theme of faith vs. works. The historical background of the book of Ephesians is that the people of Ephesus were very concerned with appeasing spritis. Some people refer to Ephesus as "Spiritual Disneyland" because of all the different deities they worshiped. They were controlled by fear thinking the god's and godesses would harm them if they did not make them happy. This thought was leaking into Christian thinking and Paul was addressing the powerlessness they felt. I love that entire book is about spiritual warfare! Now that context has been established, what does this look like for me?
Worthy: "Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called." Ephesians 4:1
The Greek word used for calling here means a call or invitiation to a feast or to embrace salvation. It is a divine call that comes only from God. The Greek word for called means invited or named. I love this! The calling is not a calling to do something but reather being invited and named to participate in salvation and to feast with Christ. It is a calling to be who god has always desired and known us to be. In the margin of my bible here I have written, "Live in a way that brings honor to God. Walk as one who is God's masterpiece of reconciliation in a broken world." so the calling then is what Paul talks about in Chapter2 and it is the same for everyone. I need to walk worthy of being "His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
Truth: No long walk as Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds...... but that is not the way you learned Christ! - Assuming that you have and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus." Ephesians 4:7,20-21
This one is pretty straight forward, well mostly. Walk in truth. Don't be a deceitful person. I think a part of this is also walking in the truth of who we are and who God is. We need to move out of lies and accept the truth of who we are in Christ. If we believe lies that tell us we are worthless, or dirty, or whatver, we're going to act out of these lies. But if we believe the truth of who Christ is and who we are in Him, we will act out of that.
Love: "And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:2
the part of this verse that strikes me is the second half. We are to love as Christ did, as a sacrifice. We must love sacrificially. Sacriificial love is not easy! It can be so difficult to look beyond myself and my pain, desires and self interest, and see where other people are and what is in their best interest.
but I must. I must move beyond my selfishness and pride to truly love for no other reason than to be a fragrant offering, a sacrifice to God.
Light: For at one time you were darkness but now you are lifht in the Lord. Walk as children of light." Ephesians 5:8
I find it interesting that Paul says "you WERE darkness but now you ARE light" and not you were in darkness but now you are in light. I think is an important distinction. Being in darkness is different that being darkness itself. I am light. What a thought! So what does it mean to walk in light (and to be light)? It goes on to say in verse 11 "Take no part in the unfrutiful walks of darkness but instead expose them." Vereses 13 and 14 say "But when anything is exposed by the light it become visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 'Awake O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you'" It is not enough to simply stay away from works of darkness. We are instructed to expose the darkness.
This reminds me of the vision God gave me in April of 2009. In my vision I saw young people who were glowing, radiating light, vaulting over a broken wall and running into darkness. We cannot stay behind the walls we've built, in the comfort and safety of our churches and Christian friends. We must be light in the dark places. We must go there and expose the works of darkness.
I think walking in light also means being vulnerable and transparent. We must be confessing our sins and allowing others to see our weaknesses and failings.
Wise: "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwaise but as wise, making the best of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.... submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:15-17,21
Wisdom is making the best use of time. there are so many things I use to distract myself and fill my time. Books, tv, movies, internet. It is not bad to enjoy these things but the amound of time I spend on them is definitely not a good use of my time. I should be spending more time with God daily than I am spending on these things. that is the only way I will be able to fully understand the will of the Lord.
Walk:
No comments:
Post a Comment