By Your Spirit

Galatians

"Live by the Spirit."  Paul's cry to the Galatians is to put aside the law and live by the spirit of Christ.  In this way they will be truly free, the freedom for which You came for us.  When I read it in Galatians, I am kind of sitting here, nodding my head going, "Yea, I need to live by the Spirit."  

Then I start thinking..."So what does that mean?"  The Scripture, the law, that's pretty easy to follow.  Living by the law is pretty straightforward.  It's difficult, for sure, and you mess up a lot, but you know when you've done that.  You can study and gain more knowledge and realize what you are supposed to do.  You can check off the ten commandments to be sure you are living in a proper manner.  But when you live by the Spirit?  What guides are there?

I suppose it is a relationship, but I wish Paul would talk a little bit more about how he lives by the Spirit.  He gives us the evaluative measure, the fruits of the Spirit, but not the prescriptive measure of how to get there.  I wonder if that's the point, that living by the Spirit means many things, but that they are all anchored in Christ and should produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

One of the complaints that I've had recently against Exodus is that the Spirit does not seem to be alive and moving in us.  I don't really know what I mean by that Lord, but it seems to be true.  Joel said that a couple of weeks ago and it was like someone said the words I'd been searching out for weeks.  The danger of our new format is that we are doing things, helping people in distress, coming together as community, seeking to learn new truths... but are we seeking Your Spirit as well?  I mean, that's a really good question.  A really, really good question.

We get so into the D.C.K.L. that we forget to let You work in us as well.  Well, as the pastor, I cannot let that happen.  My prayer for today is for an anointing of Your Spirit on the church, and people committed to living by Your Spirit.  I don't know what that will look like or what I will have to do to contribute, but let us live by Your Holy Spirit.  Amen.