DAILY PURPOSEFUL LIVING

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT IS NO MYSTERY

Walk in the Spirit,

and you will not fulfill the desires of the sinful nature.

Galatians 5.16

Living by the leadership and power of God the Holy Spirit and not behaving in sinful, destructive ways in our relationships is not a mystery, not difficult.

We simply say and do good things and not bad things to and about one another (Luke 6.27-28). Good things that encourage, strengthen, and comfort one another is how we use our gifts from the Holy Spirit daily (1 Corinthains 14.3). We deny our selfish, bad motives, thoughts, behaviors, and words; instead, we say and do good things to, for, and about others--simple.

We always know when we refuse to do/say something that would be good and helpful to others that we are responding to a need/oportunity, in our sinful selfishness. We immediately feel some negative justification for ourselves and some demeaning devaluation of the other person. In failing God, others, and ourselves ("falling short--Romans 3.23) in this way, we quench and deny the Spirit. Indulging in selfishness, we set up further internal war and conflict within ourselves and harden our hearts/consciences (Ephesians 4.17-19; Jeremiah 17.10; Galatians 5.17-21; James 3.13-4.8).

We need lots of Scripture time with Christ and the Holy Spirit (John 15.1-17; Psalm 139.23-24; Hebrews 5.12).

We can lead people no further/higher in the ways of Jesus than we are walking ourselves. If we are not doing these things, with/ by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5.18), we have no wisdom to lead and help the lost, confused people all around us who need good shepherds appointed by God the Holy Spirit (Mattthew 7.24-27).

Evidence that the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 1.24, 30) impacts our lives and the lives of others around us for Christ is in the good things we say and do in the intense purposeful relationships of daily living. (Epesians 5.232-6.4; Colossians 3.18-4.1).

Prayer and Scripture are foundational to accomplish these things in specific, daily details (Colossians 1.9-12; 4.2-6; Matthew 6.9-13; Luke 6.27-28).