Crucifying the Flesh and Keeping in Step with the Spirit

January 29, 2013 - Galatians 5:24-26

5:24		凡 屬 基 督 耶 穌 的 人 、 是 已 經 把 肉 體 、 連 肉 體 的 邪 情 私 慾 、 同 釘 在 十 字 架 上 了 。
5:25		我 們 若 是 靠 聖 靈 得 生 、 就 當 靠 聖 靈 行 事 。
5:26		不 要 貪 圖 虛 名 、 彼 此 惹 氣 、 互 相 嫉 妒 。

²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Paul draws our attention to the battle with our flesh in our spiritual journey or life of sanctification. Our flesh, though after our conversion, still carries the desires and passions that contrast to the Spirit. Paul clearly asserts that the flesh with its passions and desires has to be crucified once we belong to Christ Jesus. This is not an once-for-all event but shall be done everyday in our spiritual life. A believer is marked by this crucifixion with Jesus, not in assuring our salvation before the Lord, but as a sign of our sanctification to be like Jesus. And at the same time, Paul describes a life marked with crucifixion is also a life that lives by the Spirit and keeps in step with the Spirit. The Spirit is seen as actively living and walking closely with a believer to guide, strengthen, comfort, warn and even restrict him/her that a believer can walk after the Lord.

Thanks God that though life is complicated and future is uncertain, You have given me the most valuable gifts of Jesus and His Cross and the Spirit. These are the basic but also most important elements of my Christian faith. Learn to bear the cross to crucify my flesh and related passions and desires, and keep my footstep with the Spirit always so that all my passions and desires are in line with the Spirit. My Spirit, I earnestly want to live my life with purpose and convergence but lead me to live a Spirit-filled and Spirit-passionate life to bear the witness of the cross of Jesus, my Lord.