Every moment of every day we have an opportunity to see, hear, feel, taste, and smell what our world is doing. Through our senses, we learn how to operate in our world and how to relate to it. We are in the world and the world with its many minerals, water, carbon, and all the things of the world are in us.
And like this in our physical world, also in the spiritual. Whatever we allow to be in us, is, and whatever we do not want, we push away or remove from our lives. You see, like the physical world of where we are mindful of what goes in or out of our bodies, then also in the spirit, we make choices of good and evil every day. We choose to stay pure or become defiled by the world. Like exercise for the body, we can exorcise the soul of impure thoughts and works of the flesh. What are the works of the flesh? I’m glad you asked!
Our Bible tells us what is a work of the flesh and what is a work or fruit of the spirit:
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV
While to go through each item on this list of “what-not-to-dos” would take hours if not days or years to review, one does not have to be overwhelmed by the task. Reading the next verse about the fruit of the spirit will show the juxtaposition of the two spiritual and physical patterns of thought and methods we live our lives:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
This is a way we can test our daily moments and emotions with how we are to live according to God’s plan and not our own plan, or worse, according to Satan’s plan.
Next, to walk this out is key to living in the way God had revealed to us according to how Jesus lived and walked out His life into eternity:
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Galatians 5:25-26 NKJV
This is for us and for today. We have been shown the works of the flesh, which ends in eternal death and the works of the spirit, which leads to eternal life in Christ Jesus. If we choose this day to set our minds on the things of the spirit and not the things of this world (Colossians 3:2), then the Lord, through His Holy Spirit will lead us to eternal life with Him.
It all starts with the thoughts in our minds. When we test every (spirit of) thought to see if it is of the flesh, the enemy, or of the Spirit of God, then we have an opportunity to have purity of mind and stay in relationship with our loving God, our creator, and our good Sheppard.
Finally, if we can focus our minds on the finished work of Jesus on the cross, focus on His goodness, and walk our lives out with Him, then we have a real chance to live the life we were created and purposed for. It is because of His goodness we are here at all. And if we keep our minds pure and our mouths speaking life and not death over every situation, then we will live a life worth living and one no one would be ashamed of. Hallelujah!
God bless you this beautiful Saturday. Enjoy the day, set your minds on God’s goodness by rejecting every evil thought that the enemy tempts you with and know that you are loved. In this is peace and joy. Blessings! 