Reflect

Jesus has set us free from the penalty of sin. But that doesn’t mean sin is completely gone. As long as we are living in our mortal bodies, we experience an internal tug of war. Our old nature, our sinful flesh, struggles for dominance over our new redeemed nature, full of the Holy Spirit. All believers experience this tension daily (for a relatable description of what this feels like, see Romans 7:15-25).

This is why the Spirit is such a beautiful gift. Living within us, the Holy Spirit is God Himself – able to grow fruit that others can see and that makes us different from non-believers. With the power of the Spirit, we can love the unlovable, have joy in the midst of painful trials, feel peace even when we’re stressed, be patient when our kids are driving us crazy, be kind to those who are unkind to us, make good choices, be faithful when we feel like giving up, respond to harsh words with gentleness, and even say no to the last brownie if we are watching our sugar intake. When we keep in step with the Spirit, we experience true freedom.

Respond

Which works of the “flesh” or sinful nature do you struggle with in your life? If you are a believer, can you see how your two natures conflict?

Can you think of a specific time you knew you were being led by the Spirit? How do you know?

How can you see the fruit of the Spirit growing in your life? Is there one that is most challenging for you to see? Talk to God and ask His Spirit to help you with it.

Go Deeper

Learn more about Galatians 5:16-26 from our sermons series.