Living by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not be gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.... Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (v. 16-18, 24-25)

I remember when I was a child doing a science project where you filled half the bottle with windex and the other half with oil. One was deep blue, and the other black. One would've thought that it would've mixed together and changed colors. However, in this case they did not. One type of liquid stayed on top and the other on the bottom. If you turn the bottle upside down, the liquids would immediately move to their positions again. They would "push" on one another and force each other apart, especially to finds its place. Their difference in characteristics (density) keeps it apart.

This science project reminds me of us. We are like the bottle. We are filled with the Spirit or with the sinful nature. Their characteristics are very different, and the fruits of their labor are very different. One will always "please the heavens" and will be on top, and the other "drags us to hell" and will always be on the bottom. They will always "push" on one another, and will always be apart.

However, what would happen if we fill ourselves more with the Spirit? The bottle can only contain so much, and therefore there would be less of the sinful nature. Therefore, if we want to bear more fruits of the Spirit, then we must live and walk with the Spirit. We must focus on the Father and increase the Spirit thereby reducing the sinful nature.