Listen to this devotion
Living in the Spirit … Enables Me to Follow Jesus
In the Word
… live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature (Galatians 5:16–17a).
Of the Word
Do you remember playing tug-o-war as a youngster? Teams were chosen, the rope was stretched, and the pulling began. Muscles bulged, feet slipped, onlookers cheered. And finally one team glowed in victory while the other sagged in defeat.
Does your life seem like a tug-o-war? Are you pulled by temptations and tugged by the Spirit? Yes? Yes! All Christians are! As St. Paul said, For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing (Romans 7:18b–19).
How can we win the battle? St. Paul reminds us, You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you (Romans 8:9a).
Because of God's grace, we have His Spirit. Jesus has won the tug-o-war against sin for us by His death on the cross.
Walking with my Lord
Dear Lord, I face daily battles with sin and temptations. I confess that sometimes I fail. Forgive me and strengthen me, for I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Mustard Seed: Living in the Spirit. Authors: Marcia Gomulka, Dcs. Betty Knapp, Myrna Lou Meyer. 9/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
