Daily Devotional for Friday, January 31

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh;' Galatians 5:16.

"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself;' Galatians 5:13,14.

Paul frequently used this idea of walking a certain way with regard to the Lord. Paul's use of the term "walk" refers to our conduct or way of living. In Romans 6:4, Paul said we should "walk in newness of life." Elsewhere, Paul said to "walk honestly" (Romans 13:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:12), "walk in" good works (Ephesians 2:10), "walk worthy" (Ephesians 4:1, Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12), "walkin love" (Ephesians 5:2), "walk in" Christ Jesus the Lord (Colossians 2:6), and "walk in wisdom" (Colossians 4:5). One of my favorite challenge verses for my own Christian life is found in Ephesians, "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).

Obviously, living a life reflective of God and Jesus Christ was important to Paul. He wanted the Galatian churches and all who read his letters to understand how necessary it was to live their lives in a manner pleasing to the Savior. Regarding Galatians 5:16, Dr. Charles Law wrote, "To walk in the Spirit is the essence of godly living."

Paul is probably the biblical poster child for godly living. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). This statement was not just decorative wall ephemera or memorabilia Paul considered when things were tough. This was not just a feel-good mantra or slogan that Paul used to make himself sound righteous. There is no doubt that in all things Paul walked worthy of the Lord.

How is your Christian walk? Of the terms I highlighted above, do all of them apply to you? If not, why not? I am very guilty of walking in some, but not all of the ways Paul mentioned. Because of my failures, sometimes I am guilty of being selfish instead of pleasing God.

CHALLENGE

This week try to live your life according to all the ways Paul directed us to live.

Chris Floyd