“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:16-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Being made free from the power of sin (the law of Moses - I Corinthians 15:56) and penalty of sin (death - Romans 6:23) through Jesus Christ, we are emancipated from slavery to Satan and sin. We are now adopted children of God. “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬ (please also read Romans 8:23; Galatians 4:5; and Ephesians 1:5). We are children of divine royalty. “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We are children of the Most High. Since He has made us free and adopted us as His family, it is our responsibility to represent Him well. We are absolutely, and certainly, saved by grace through faith! Now that we are His, we have His Spirit living inside us (see I Corinthians 6:19). Our spiritual nature has been transformed. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The battle we face is with our corrupt, mortal, flesh (carnal, sinful nature). Our spirit is new but we still live in the same body and world. That will change when Christ returns (see 1 Corinthians 15:23, 51-58 and I Thessalonians 4:13-18). Until Christ returns, we must depend upon the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within us to overcome our sinful cravings. Our flesh is weak. The Holy Spirit is our strength, guide, corrector, and consecrator. Our dependence must be upon Him if we are to successfully live the practical life of freedom that Jesus has bought and paid for!!!

Prayer for today: Father, in Jesus name, refresh me in Your Holy Spirit that I may lead a life of freedom that declares that I belong to You!