Walking in the Spirit – a Practical GuideSample

Lesson #2 – Don’t Over-Paddle!

While some of us put no effort into walking in the Spirit, some of us put too much effort. The whole objective of paddling is to catch the wave and then we are carried along by the energy of that wave. There is no more need to paddle after we’ve caught the wave. If we try to continue to move towards the shore using our own effort, we will tire very quickly. 

It is the same when we try to progress along our journey of sanctification through willpower and human effort. It is tiring and joyless. Chapter 5 of Galatians actually starts off with Paul warning against this type of mindset. Apparently, some men were preaching to the converts in Galatia that they had to be circumcised to follow Christ. Paul was incensed! Paul knew that this was a dead end. He knew that following laws and rituals had absolutely no benefit for righteous living. He called it trying to be justified by the law rather than depending on Christ for our righteousness, by faith and through the Spirit. 

Thankfully, circumcision is not a thing today, but the underlying issue is still very much relevant. It is still a subtle but very real deception to believe that it is our outward efforts that make us righteous. Today circumcision could be replaced by church attendance or tithing or long prayers or bible knowledge. God is not bribed by our good deeds and they have no power to make us righteous. Our approach must be radically different. Instead, we are very intentionally making ourselves available for deeper relationship with Jesus and for His Spirit to work in us. 

Points to pray/journal

· Do I have a tendency to be casual about my sin and rely on God’s grace and mercy?

· Do I tend more to self-condemnation, guilt and working very hard to be good?

Declarations

· By grace alone I have been saved and the mercy of God leads me to prayerful repentance.

· I lay aside any dependence on my own efforts and trust wholly in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit!