“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”[Gal 5:25].
If we are saved we should not live as the unsaved, if we are now regenerate we must not live as the unregenerate. In other words a prince should not live as a pauper. It therefore seems more than reasonable that those who claim the name of sons of God should both live and walk in the Spirit.
Is this command a mere doctrine that receives our nod of agreement, but nothing more? Is this injunction ice cold or has it warmth that excites the soul? For instance we are clearly elected and saved by grace, but it doesn’t seem to bother us at all, so how about this command “let us also walk in the Spirit” for it is a daily response to God. Has it any further meaning than mental acquiescence?
To live in the Spirit
Many Christians believe that this phrase is simply another expression for commitment, but this kind of commitment is embraced by so few who profess the name of Christ. Those who do are often counted as fanatics with an unbounded zeal that embarrasses the casual status quo. To others it may be counted as mere extravagance and to be normal is the sensible and restrained thing to do. Some are of the opinion that the command is only for apostles who seem to have a special or unique relationship with God, and while we shun evil and live good lives, that is all we need to do. But we cannot have God and not the Spirit, they are interdependent.
This means we have communion with God through the Spirit and that communion is not a schedule of lifestyle enforcements, but a unique interdependence with the divine. There are those who profess the faith and have a daily work-out plan; their keep-fit, to-do list of spiritual exercises. These are the ones who have a misty understanding of religious matters believing that it is duty and tradition whereas it is a love enfoldment in the garden of myrrh [Song 4:14].
If we are to have blissful eternal communion in ages to come, what of that tryst now, what time is spent is time for eternity? The touch of reality is multiplied by the day, if it is by seven it is a week, if by thirty then a month of minutes, hours, days spent walking with God, which is living in the Spirit.
This is the most susceptible of actions, for almost anything and everything will conspire to steal the time-dedicated will to walk in the Spirit. Even as the barometer is affected by changing pressure, so our life also, and if our time of communion is depleted with God it cannot only be felt but externally observed. Living in the Spirit is susceptible to so many vagrant things.
To live evenly in the Spirit has limitations, for we are often subject to uneasiness and distraction that interferes and interrupts our diligent devotion. Those who know and experience this also know that they derive their life and influences from him who they love, and therefore know before anyone else what is happening in their life. “In him we live, and move, and have our being,” [Acts 17:28] this is what living in the Spirit really is. Ask yourself if you can refer all your actions and decisions in life to the work of the Spirit or not. In other words would he own or acknowledge who we are and what we do is from him? A salutary thought. This is what new life in the Spirit is. It is observable and optimistic; it comes with positive contributions to life. You can see the Spring, it is undeniable, and so is life in the Spirit.
To Walk in the Spirit
To walk in the Spirit is nothing less than to walk like Jesus; walking unworldly, unselfishly, and having an unavoidable reach for God. It is to be separated, self-denying, single-minded and spontaneously motivated for good. It is to be loving, liberated and lastingly devoted to the principles of salvation. It means to walk in a power and presence derived from heaven, to propagate the purpose of an eternal heart, to prosper those around you with the ethics of eternity.
The magnificent seven of Acts 6:3 served tables, swept up the rubbish and walked in the Spirit. The disciples waited on the multitude, gave out sardines and biscuits and walked in the Spirit. Paul making tents was walking in the Spirit. Mundane actions are ennobled by the Spirit. Doing the ordinary in an extraordinary manner is what walking in the Spirit is all about. Someone said: “dare to be remarkable,” but you cannot without the Spirit.
