Listen to Devotion

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. . . But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

My old ’66 Ford LTD coupe with its 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust was a sweet car, but if it didn’t have the best mix of gas, it ran rough. Sometimes I think our spiritual lives are like that. When we get the wrong “fuel,” our Christian living runs rough. God wants us to live in love. That translates to honoring God in all we do and dealing with others with proper concern for their welfare. That doesn’t always happen in your life, does it?

Our lives often don’t accomplish what they were intended to do, nor do they give us the peace and joy that God intends. There is a conflict in our inner being. The sinful nature inside cares for nothing besides satisfying its desires. If that fuels our decisions, actions, and reactions, the negative results for our lives and others will be obvious. Life becomes rough. The apostle Paul described it as biting and devouring each other that would eventually lead to destruction.

But God promises us the Holy Spirit who works tremendous things in our live to make them run smoothly on the inside and perform beneficially on the outside. Think of the covenant of baptism he has given you to clothe you with Christ’s forgiveness and power for living. Read the Bible on a regular basis and see the transformation that goes on in you through the powerful gospel message.

The sinful nature and the Spirit—they don’t mix. Letting them exist together brings conflict. During the week drown out the sinful nature with daily repentance for sinful attitudes, and fill your days daily with the fuel of the Spirit brought through the hearing of his word for our lives.

Create in me a new heart, O God. And renew in me a steadfast spirit. Amen.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.