Galatians 5:16
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
Once upon a time in a forest lived the frog and the scorpion. The scorpion wanted to leave its home to explore the world. As he left his home in the woods of the forest he came across a raging river. Unfortunately, the scorpion did not know how to swim to go across. Spotting a frog a few meters away, the scorpion saw an opportunity to make a new friend and get help. He quickly asked the frog to carry him on his back. Afraid of the scorpion’s infamous deadly sting the frog without hesitation retorted, “No! You will sting me.”
It’s My Nature
The scorpion then said, “I won’t sting you, because we will drown if I do.” The sensible argument won over the frog. Just as they got halfway through the river, with the scorpion on the back of the frog, he stung the frog anyway. The dying frog estranged cried out, “What’s wrong with you? Now we are going to die.” The scorpion replied, “I apologize, It’s my nature.”
The nursery story above highlights an important lesson about the relationship between the flesh and the spirit. Paul tried to explain this lesson to the Galatians. The spirit expressly desires the things that are contrary to the spirit. It is the nature of the flesh. You can not counsel your way out of the flesh. Nobody can try to live a life ruled by the flesh while at the same time try to live right with the spirit. It’s impossible. It is like mixing oil and water. As soon as you give your life to Christ you realize that there is an existing battle between the world and your new life in Christ. If a new believer is not careful they can easily slide back to living according to their old nature (Ephesians 4:22).
The Two Drivers
Think of your life as a train composed of the locomotive engine and the train cars. The train cars represent different aspects of your life. Childhood, marriage, finance, attitude and other aspects make up somebody’s livelihood. However, the locomotive engine is either a life led by the spirit or the flesh. These two drivers are very opposite and they are always trying to take the lead in your life. When we are led by the flesh, everything turns out how it did for the frog in our starting story. The enemy only came to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus came to give life and in abundance (John 10:10).
Therefore, when our lives are led by the locomotive engine of the spirit of Jesus, we can cruise through dead, frightening, slow, harsh, hard valleys and still remain on the track without being derailed. When we walk in the spirit we receive the ability to say no to sinful desires of the flesh. How then do we walk in the spirit? It is by keeping our hearts rested in God’s promises, waiting on the Lord and actively pursuing Christlikeness (Philippians 3:14-15). When we meditate on the trustworthiness of God’s promises our hearts will be free of all fretting and we will have victory over our temptations.
King James Version (KJV)
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
New International Version (NIV)
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
“Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
New American Bible (NASB)
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
The Living Bible (TLB)
“I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to.”