Restoration Series: How Do I Keep in Step with the Spirit? | March 11, 2023

I remember the first time I put on ice skates and assumed I’d be the next Dorothy Hamill. (Yes, that’s how old I am, and yes I had her haircut). However, I was not the next Dorothy Hamill. And I could never navigate ice skates. I’m more of a slippers girl. I can navigate slippers.

The Apostle Paul uses the illustration of walking in the Spirit or keeping in step with the Spirit in both the Romans passage from yesterday and here today in Galatians. So just what does it mean to walk in the Spirit, to keep in step with Him?

Galatians 5:13-26 NIV

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.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 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.

Walking in the Spirit involves being led by the Spirit (v.18) and living in the Spirit (v. 25). If we don’t let the Spirit lead and we don't live in the Spirit, then we can’t walk in Him. To keep in step with the Spirit means we are walking in His footsteps, or keeping in line with His steps. Jesus is our human example of what it looks like to walk in the Spirit.

What are some practical ways that you walk in the Spirit based on the fruit of the Spirit? What is one specific action you can take to love your neighbor, your loved one, or your friend today? When you do so, how does it change your perspective on your situation? How do you feel? 

For me, it feels as good as those fuzzy slippers. Wink, wink.

If you’d like to learn more about or connect with the Daily Readings writer, Jodi Harris, click here.