The latter section of Galatians 5 is titled, Living by the Spirit’s Power. In this section, instructions tell what we shouldn’t be doing and how we should conduct our lives. Verses 25 and 26 conclude the chapter inciting how to let the Holy Spirit lead your life.
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:25-26
Because Paul says since we are living by the Spirit, we know that he is talking to Christians. He emphasizes in these chapters is that we, as Christians, should love one another. Which, is the basis of the Fruit of the Spirit.
Living by the Spirit means we must follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Paul doesn’t stop there, he gets specific. He brings up attributes within us that we don’t want to admit to. And we certainly don’t want to discuss with others.
Let Us Not . . .
Let us not become conceited. Paul qualifies this phrase in other places. He tells us that we are nothing in ourselves — but everything in Christ. Therefore we have no bragging rights unless we are bragging on Jesus.
Then he goes on to say Let us not provoke one another. In other words, don’t make others angry. The word he uses is provoke, which means to deliberately make (someone) annoyed or angry. One Bible translation says it this way, So may we never look down on another, for each of us is an original.
The third thing Paul says, Let us not be jealous of one another. The word jealous means feeling or showing envy of someone or their achievements and advantages. Verse 19 says the desires of our sinful nature include 15 specific things and 2 of them are jealousy and envy. At the end of that list, Paul says,
Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:21
To get the full scope of what is being said in the chapter, you can read it here.
How Do You Let the Holy Spirit Lead Your Life?
The key is you must want Him to lead your life. Our verses say “let us follow and let us not become.”
As the Lord becomes more and more important to us that is when we let His Spirit lead. And that is when the Holy Spirit starts to grow out of our lives. Verses 22-23 tell us what it looks like.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23
Lord, about these three things Paul mentioned in this verse – becoming conceited, provoking one another, and being jealous. They can come on us quickly if we are not led by your Spirit. Help us to follow His lead and cultivate our lives. So the Fruit of the Spirit will grow in us.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Christian Perspectives.
Featured Image by jplenio from Pixabay
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