25 lines
4.6 KiB
HTML
25 lines
4.6 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
|
|
<html><head>
|
|
<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
|
|
<script src="../../../js/basepath.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/nav.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainHeader.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
|
|
<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
|
|
<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">February 25</div></div>
|
|
<div class="main-just"><div class="pad2030">
|
|
<h2>Walking in the Spirit</h2>
|
|
<div class="block"><i><b>Walk</b> in the <b>Spirit</b>, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh…If we <b>live</b> in the <b>Spirit</b>, let us also <b>walk</b> in the <b>Spirit</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gal',5,16,25);">Galatians 5:16, 25</a>)</div>
|
|
<p>The term <i>"<b>walk</b>"</i> is used dozens of times in the New Testament to describe the manner of life a person is leading. Many of these occurrences depict the Christian life: <i>"<b>walk</b> in love… <b>walk</b> as children of light… <b>walk</b> circumspectly"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph',5,2,8);">Ephesians 5:2, 8, 15</a>). In our passages, we are told to <i>"<b>walk</b> in the <b>Spirit</b>."</i></p>
|
|
<p>Walking is a very insightful description of spiritual life. A <b>walk</b> has a <b>beginning</b> and a <b>destination</b>. Our beginning was in new birth: <i>"<b>born</b> of the <b>Spirit</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn',3,6);">John 3:6</a>). Our destination is heaven forever with our Lord and Savior: <i>"And thus we shall <b>always</b> be <b>with</b> the <b>Lord</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Th',4,17);">1 Thessalonians 4:17</a>). A good walk is <b>steady</b> and <b>progressive</b>. We are called to be <b>faithful</b>: <i>"Well done, good and <b>faithful</b> servant"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat',25,21);">Matthew 25:21</a>). We are called to <b>press</b> ahead: <i>"forgetting those things which are behind and <b>reaching forward</b> to those things which are <b>ahead</b>, I <b>press toward</b> the <b>goal</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Phl',3,13,14);">Philippians 3:13-14</a>). In addition, a walk has <b>many</b> potential <b>adventures</b> along the way. We are likely to encounter stretching challenges and paradoxical blessings: <i>"in <b>tumults</b>, in <b>labors</b>, in <b>sleeplessness</b>…as <b>sorrowful</b>, yet always <b>rejoicing</b>; as <b>poor</b>, yet making many <b>rich</b>; as having <b>nothing</b>, and yet possessing <b>all things</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',6,5,10);">2 Corinthians 6:5, 10</a>).</p>
|
|
<p>Ultimately, a walk must have an <b>available resource</b> that provides <b>sufficient</b> vitality, strength, guidance, and assurance. Here, our passages offer special hope through the injunction to <i>"<b>walk</b> in the <b>Spirit</b>."</i> Day by day, each step of the way, we are to <b>rely upon</b> the <b>presence</b> and <b>work</b> of the <b>Holy Spirit</b> in our lives. <b>Every</b> issue of life (whether at home, office, school, or church) is to be faced in this manner. Otherwise, the influence of our flesh (our natural humanity) will prevail. <i>"<b>Walk</b> in the <b>Spirit</b>, and you shall <b>not fulfill</b> the <b>lust</b> of the <b>flesh</b>."</i> In ourselves we are not able to overcome the inadequacies and improper tendencies of the flesh. However, the Holy Spirit is more than able to become our sufficient provider of whatever we need for an effective and fruitful walk.</p>
|
|
<p>This perspective on Christian living makes complete biblical sense, when we connect our daily walk to how we found spiritual life in the first place. <i>"If we <b>live</b> in the <b>Spirit</b>, let us also <b>walk</b> in the <b>Spirit</b>."</i> It was strictly by the work of the Spirit that we received life initially; therefore, let us take each step of life, <i>"<b>walk</b></i>[ing] <i>in the <b>Spirit</b>."</i></p>
|
|
<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord God Almighty, I am so weak and so easily enticed in my flesh. I cannot produce what is needed for the spiritual walk to which I am called. O Lord, I cry out to You for the indispensable work of Your Spirit within me. Lord, teach me to walk day by day by the grace that Your Spirit alone can provide, Amen.</div>
|
|
</div></div>
|
|
<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/02/0224.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
|
|
<a href="./devotions/daybyday/02/0226.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
|
|
</div></div>
|
|
<div class="return"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/index.html">Return to Day By Day By Grace Page</a></div>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainFooter.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
|