Intentional Negligence

Read: Galatians 5:13-26

Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. Galatians 5:16

IN WORD

The Kingdom life is a matter of walking in the Spirit. That’s not a controversial statement; virtually every Christian would agree with it. But not all Christians remember it on a day-by-day or moment-by-moment basis. Instead, we turn our attention to the flesh and try to stamp it out, starve it, get rid of it, or any other such direct approach. Human logic tells us that if we want to stop gratifying the desires of the flesh, we should focus on denying those desires. But this logic leads us only to frustration.

Think of the absurdity. Are we really going to be able to stamp out the power of the flesh in the power of the flesh? Is self-discipline really our best option when the self is the problem to begin with? Does any problem really get better by our obsessing over it? Or is there perhaps a better way?

Paul says there’s a much better way, and it doesn’t involve addressing the flesh at all. Instead, we choose to walk by the Spirit without even paying attention to the flesh. If we’re filled with the Spirit and living by His direction and desires, we won’t exactly have room for the flesh to grow stronger. Ignoring our misplaced desires may seem negligent and irresponsible—doesn’t somebody have to deal with them firmly?—but focusing on them only honors their power. Pay them no attention. Invest yourself fully in the Spirit. Let that life overcome the one you’re leaving behind.

IN DEED

If what we focus on tends to grow larger, then the only way to become stronger in the Spirit is to focus on the Spirit. Or for another commonly used illustration, whatever you feed will strengthen, and whatever you starve will weaken. Just as God is not at all obsessed with His enemies, we don’t have any reason to be obsessed with ours—even the ones within. Our only preoccupation is a holy connection with the Spirit Himself. In Him, we have everything we need to think, feel, desire, speak, and act in Kingdom ways.

ADDITIONAL READING: Romans 8:5-14

Work designed for eternity can only be done by the eternal Spirit.

A. W. TOZER