(The following is the August 23 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Galatians 5 and pay close attention to verses 24-26.)

When pondering the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, we often stop with verse 23. However, what follows is equally important: “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (v. 24). We have a vital role to play in living godly lives.

We rely on the indwelling Holy Spirit for the possibility of living holy lives, something we can’t do through human effort. Still, we cooperate with the Spirit to crucify our sinful nature, seeking God’s will, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, and obeying his Word. We pray for God to transform us in ways that please him and make us more like Christ. We actively flee temptation, avoiding places and situations where we tend to fail. This crucifying of the flesh’s passions and desires is only possible because God changes us from the inside out. While we cooperate, the credit goes solely to God for our transformation.

Paul continued instructing the Galatians: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (v. 25). This brings to mind an image of us following the Spirit’s lead and walking with him rather than going down sinful paths that lead to our destruction. We must keep in step with the Spirit to fight sin successfully. He is our guide, teacher, and comforter who leads us on the right path.

We are not alone in our faith journey as Christians. We have a Helper, but helpers aren’t supposed to do all the work. We participate in the process, crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires. Then we give God all the glory for what he accomplishes in us.

Next Step:
What sins of the flesh do you need to crucify? Is there someone you can confide in who can help hold you accountable in this growth area?