Walking by the Spirit - Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself

January 27, 2013 - Galatians 5:13-18

5:13		弟 兄 們 、 你 們 蒙 召 、 是 要 得 自 由 ． 只 是 不 可 將 你 們 的 自 由 當 作 放 縱 情 慾 的 機 會 ． 總 要 用 愛 心 互 相 服 事 。
5:14		因 為 全 律 法 都 包 在 愛 人 如 己 這 一 句 話 之 內 了 。
5:15		你 們 要 謹 慎 ． 若 相 咬 相 吞 、 只 怕 要 彼 此 消 滅 了 。
5:16		我 說 、 你 們 當 順 著 聖 靈 而 行 、 就 不 放 縱 肉 體 的 情 慾 了 。
5:17		因 為 情 慾 和 聖 靈 相 爭 、 聖 靈 和 情 慾 相 爭 ． 這 兩 個 是 彼 此 相 敵 、 使 你 們 不 能 作 所 願 意 作 的 。
5:18		但 你 們 若 被 聖 靈 引 導 、 就 不 在 律 法 以 下 。

 ¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

   ¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Paul pictures the battle and conflict between the flesh and the Spirit in a believer's life. Paul affirms that the key for victory is to walk by the Spirit and not walk by the flesh. Paul also warns the misunderstanding of the freedom of a believer's life that he/she is not to indulge the flesh but to live a life of loving the neighbor as oneself in order to fulfill the most important commandment of the law. Paul even exhorts the believers that they are to be led by the Spirit - they live above the law, i.e. believers living a new era of new covenant - Spirit-age, instead of the old era of the old covenant - Law-age. 

My Lord, I know that the only key to have a victorious or sanctified life is to live out my daily life as being a Spirit-filled person - to walk by the Spirit and to be led by the Spirit that I do not indulge in the flesh but rather love the neighbour - the people close to me - my family members, brothers and sisters, etc. - as myself. Practicing the fellowship with the Spirit and to living out a life of love - learning the lessons of appreciating, sharing, listening, helping, and forgiving of our brothers and sisters in Christ through listening to the voice of the Spirit in my heart. Dear Holy Spirit, You picture Yourself as like a river flowing out the temple of God to revitalize your people (in Ezekiel 47). Here am I - Speak to me and to your church today.