I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh;  these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:16-18  HCSB

The phrase like oil and water is used to refer to things that don’t mix.  When two people are very different and have a hard time getting along, we tend to say that they are like oil and water.

When we live like we are two different people, that doesn’t mix either.  We can’t live by the Spirit one or two days a week and be led by the flesh the other five or six days.  The two don’t mix.  In fact, as our scripture passage says, they oppose each other.  So, let’s look at these two different walks that both vie for our attention.

The devil wants you to walk by the flesh.  When we do this, it pleases him.  He wants you to live a carefree lifestyle where you just do what you want.  You don’t worry about what the Bible says and you have a good time.  At least, this is the picture he paints for you.  The thing about this is that the devil is lying to you (John 8:44).  This lifestyle is not carefree, in fact it is just the opposite.  Sin will drag you down. Before you know it, you will be drowning in it.  The devil paints a pretty picture to get his foot in the door and before you know it he busts right in and takes over.

God wants us to walk by the Spirit.  He wants us to be led by His Holy Spirit.  This means we live in total contrast to what the flesh wants.  This means that we stifle the flesh and live according to God’s word.  Now already some of you are reading this and thinking that this might be burdensome.  I used to think that too.

I went through this period in my life where I had been let down by some people that I really cared about.  I had tried living my life according to God’s word and I had been let down by some of the mortals around me.  So, I decided to try to do both.  I decided that I would go to church on Sunday and live the way I wanted to from the time I got out of church till the time I went back.  And then the pattern would repeat.  You see, I still loved God, but people had let me down.  I wasn’t going to be let down again, I was going to look out for number one.  I was going to take care of me.  I was a big girl and I could handle it.  I thought I had this.  I was wrong.

My selfish lifestyle of putting me first was drama filled.  I went from one problem to the next problem.  It was exhausting at times.  But somehow as blind as I had been, I saw the light.  I went to church and began to really want to be there.  It was getting to where it was no longer just a Sunday obligation.  I wanted to be there.  I wanted to please God.  I was exhausted from trying to please myself.  Now, I’m a slow learner, so let me tell you that it took a couple years of going to church and wanting to please God before I understood what my problem was.  I had been trying to mix oil and water.  Even though I wanted to please God, I was not willing to let go of my old lifestyle.  I was trying to hold on to some of my old sinful habits.  I couldn’t understand why I was so miserable.

Then one day, God had pity on me and finally just spelled it out for me.  I am sure that He was getting tired of my whining and complaining.  I’m sure that he was wondering why I just didn’t get it.  God told me that if I would focus on Him and put Him first that He would take care of everything else in my life (Matthew 6:33).  This was on August 22, 2010.  I was so miserable, I had no choice but to take Him up on the offer.  I had to trust Him.  Something had to give.  So I agreed.  It was the best decision of my life.

I now live free from the bondage that sin had over me.  I am not perfect, but I am forgiven.  I do try my best to please God.  I do my best to always walk in the Spirit.  I know that if I slip, God provides angels to hold me up lest my foot hit a stone (Psalm 91:11-12).  Wow! This life is so much better!

The really awesome thing about this is that it wasn’t offered to just me.  I am no one special.  I am just a worthless sinner.  Someone, who for many years, just couldn’t get it right.  But I am a child of God.  And so are you.

God offers His wonderful mercy, grace, and salvation to all of us.  So today, before it’s too late, I encourage you to turn to Him.  Focus on Him.  Put Him first in your life.  Stop trying to mix the oil (your old sinful life) with the water (your new life lived with Christ).  They are never going to mix.  Choose the living water so that you will never thirst again (John 4:14).

Have a great day!