Bible Reading
Galatians 5
Devotional Thoughts
I was introduced to a new author this week. His name is Bob Tiede. He does leadership development for Cru and is a certified Leadership Coach. His ministry is titled, “Leading With Questions.” In His book, “Now That’s a Great Question,” he said Jesus was the greatest communicator that ever lived. He did that by doing 2 things. Jesus asked good questions and told good stories. The difference between Jesus and us is that Jesus never asked a question he didn’t already know the answer to. So, why did he ask questions?” It’s because his desire was to create deeper self awareness and learning, and that’s what asking questions does.
As I continue to grow and develop in my own coaching, I want to continue learning how to ask better questions and do less telling.
So, let me ask some questions from my reading this morning:
Gal 5:16 tells us to, “Walk in the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Gal 5:25) continues that thought by saying, “If we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” So, what does it look like to be walking in and staying in step with the Spirit?
We often use these verses quite broadly. But, take a few minutes to look at the context of these verses. What do the verses around Gal 5:16 talk about?
- (v15) “But, if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”
- (v17) For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit..
- (v20) the works of the flesh are … enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy…
What do you notice about these traits of the flesh? How many of them are relational?
Paul does mention, sorcery, sexual immorality, impurity and a couple others. But more than half of this list are all relational things.
Interesting. I wonder if that’s true with the traits / fruits of the Spirit? Read 5:22-23 and let’s ask the same questions. What do you notice about these traits of the Spirit? How many of them are relational?
“…patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness… Most of these are also relational too.
Now, let’s ask the question again, but based on the context. What does keeping in step with the Spirit look like?
The Spirit seeks unity, peace, absence of strife and dissension… That’s what keeping in step with him looks like.
Declarations
- Walking in the Spirit is free from anxiety because I am living with the peace of God
- Walking in the Spirit is free from enmity, strife and jealousy because I am patiently waiting on God
- Walking in the Spirit is freedom to love my neighbor as myself and live to serve others
- When I walk in the Spirit, it’s a promise, a guarantee that I will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.