Galatians 5:16-18 If you change a man’s nature, you change his course, which in turn changes his destiny
Galatians 5:16-18 If you change a man’s nature, you change his course, which in turn changes his destiny
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Background
Paul continued by showing the Galatians how they having received their new found freedom should live. For the purpose of fulfilling their destiny they must endeavour to walk by the Spirit, and not by the flesh. For many of them are undecided and wavering between the Spirit and the flesh. Until they learn to remain steadfast in the ways of the Spirit, there will be no progress or eternal significance in their endeavours. Today’s devotion teaches us: If you change a man’s nature, you change his course, which in turn changes his destiny.
Observation
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
The term “walk” is translated from the Greek term “peripapeo” which means to “walk around” to “keep in step”. In other words, to “walk by the Spirit ” is to “keep in step with the Spirit”. Here lies the condition that leads to a promise. Indeed, if you “keep in step with the Spirit ” (the condition), you will not carry out the desire of the flesh (the promise). What does it mean to “keep in step with the Spirit”? It means to walk as Jesus walked, in making choices as He made. This is the mindset that leaves no margin for error… by closing off our minds to all things that are antithetical to Christ. When we harbour such a mindset, we keep a tight reign on our thoughts and motives and do not allow them to wander. In so doing, we keep ourselves from stumbling.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
The flesh is personified as antithetical to the Spirit of God. The flesh denotes the corrupted human nature that is born in sin and utter deprivity. Yet there is a third entity: you. The “you” is perennially torn between the flesh and the Spirit, which is an existential human condition. Until Christ returns and destroys the devil and the machinery of temptation, man cannot circumvent the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit: you may not do the things that you please. However, there is a resolution to this struggle… when one employs the dominance of the Spirit in all his decisions.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Paul, in saying the above, presumes that one cannot be led by the Spirit and by the flesh at the same time. For he will love one and hate the other. But if one chooses to stand with the Spirit, then making decisions that agrees with God’s will becomes instinctive or second nature to him. But one who chooses to stand with the flesh adopts a distinctly different approach to making decisions. He does not consider godly principles, for he chooses the course of action that benefits him. One who is under the law chooses to do what is right only when there is a likelihood of being discovered and penalised for doing wrong. Paul, in saying the above described the mentality of those who are under the law as pragmatic, self-serving and unprincipled in all that they do.
Truth
If you change a man’s nature, you change his course, which in turn changes his destiny.
The dominance of either the Spirit or the flesh determines a man’s nature, which affects the course of his life towards his final destiny (see the figure below).
Paul urged the Galatians to “walk by the Spirit”, so that they may put on the nature of Christ. In so doing, they take the course of the cross by “not carrying out the desires of the flesh”. Jesus urges the people to set aright the courses of their lives when He calls them to, “Follow me!” By putting on the Spirit’s nature and in following Jesus, we will fulfil our divine destiny and reap eternal life. Paul said
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8
Many, in an attempt to secure a grand destiny, conjure lofty visions for themselves and dream up bold plans with ambitious timelines. However, they never got down to it because they did not count the cost… The cost of changing their life course. They are those who supposed by working among the destitute in a distant land will secure them a glorious position in God’s kingdom. But they are not willing to pare down their standard of living by taking on a lower paying job which allows them time to serve. Or forsake their penchant for popularity. For their core nature does not allow them to make the shift from fame and the pleasures of the world to the things of the kingdom. Because they are fleshly, they cannot part with their condominiums, fancy cars, and extravagant lifestyle, their destiny remains obscured.
Having known that a man’s nature is the seed that will bear the fruit of his destiny. Let us be diligent to plant the seed of the Spirit by purifying our motives and intents of our heart. For the purpose of fulfilling our divine destiny, be prepared to make changes to the courses of our lives.
For a man to be successful, he must first find harmony within himself.
As no country can prosper with an ongoing civil war, no man can prosper if he is constantly struggling within himself. This struggle is played out between the Spirit and the flesh: For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. Therefore, a man eventually has to decide who he will serve: God or mammon (see Matthew 6:24), the Spirit or the flesh. Once he arrives at the decision and choose the way of the Spirit, there will be harmony within and success in all his endeavours.
Joshua challenged the Israelites towards making the decision as to who they choose to serve,
“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Apostle John also challenged the church of his time to make the decision for they were neither hot or cold but were lukewarm towards God.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:15-16
Many in the church today wake up every morning to the battles that rage inside them. And these clashes of agendas between the Spirit and the flesh continues throughout the day. For such are always vacillating between the eternal things of heaven and the temporal pleasures of the earth; between human wisdom and the unfathomable wisdom of the Spirit; between the tangible security of money and the intangible security of God. Until they learn to remain resolute and steadfast in the ways of the Spirit, there will be no harmony within, no progress, or eternal significance in all their endeavours.
Application
Are you often conflicted and struggling between…
- Peace and fear,
- Calm and anxiety,
- Forgiveness and hatred,
- Joy and anger,
- Lust and purity,
- Trust and control,
- Diligence and bordem,
- Divine wisdom and human reasoning?
Arm yourself with God’s word by memorising the bible verses that strengthen you. By memorising scripture, you internalise the word that produces wisdom and strength in times of need.
Do you often feel that you are at a less than perfect place either in your career, ministry or the circumstances around you? And that you are dealt a bad hand? Consider the following:
- Am I always running away from something? Perhaps, you are undecided to face and deal with that which is important to progress towards the next phase of life.
- Am I stagnating in my work? This is perhaps due to the stagnation of your spiritual growth. And you are less than willing to overcome certain shortcomings in you.
- Are you often torn between two seemingly opposing things that you equally cherish? Such that you are often conflicted and waver between two decisions?
Do not seek to change your circumstances. But instead, change your nature and followed by your course. If you choose the way of God, what you may lose is incomparable to the eternal gain and glory of fulfilling your destiny.
Dear Lord, I have made the decision to always choose the way of the Spirit. Mould me and create in me a pure heart, and a wise disposition so that I may fulfil my destiny. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.