Walking in the Spiritনমুনা

A prisoner sits in a dark, dank cell, wasting away. The chains that bite into his ankles and wrists become soft and start to drip away. With a clink and a groan, the heavy door swings open, revealing a beautiful landscape and the prisoner’s best friend gesturing him forward. Who would stay in the prison?

It is for freedom that we have been set free. The freedom to fight against the old nature that oppresses us, to say no to destructive habits and yes to the glory and virtue we’ve always admired from afar.

Those who belong to Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Jesus bore our sin in his body on the cross, melting the shackles of lust, idolatry and hatred off our wrists, and freeing our feet from the chains of envy, drunkenness and rage so that we can walk in step with his Holy Spirit.

Each day we have the choice of how we will use this freedom. We can sow to the Spirit, who will make us more and more like Jesus. Or we can sow to the flesh and let what should be dead gasp an unholy breath again.

The decisions we make can be worship or they can be sin. How we treat a person – with love or with disdain – is worship to God or sin against him. What motivates our work – kindness or selfish ambition – is worship to God or sin against him.

Pray that you would use your freedom for worship today. Are there any situations where you really struggle to crucify destructive desires? Is there anything that helps you to keep in step with the Spirit? What choices can you make now, either to cut something out of your day or add something in, that will set you up well to keep choosing the Spirit?