July 1, 2010

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)

I am a tall guy - 6 feet 4 1/2 inches to be exact. So when I take a walk with one of my daughters, you could say that it is a "tall order" for them to attempt to keep up with me - to keep in step with me. What we find here in Galatians 5 is a very tall- "tall order" - to "keep in step with the Spirit." David tells us in one of his songs of praise that, "As for God, his way is perfect..." (2 Samuel 22:31) Jesus told his disciples to, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) None of us is actually capable of keeping up with the perfection of the Spirit's pace, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23) - all have gotten out of step with the Spirit. All of us get tripped up and stumble around - "we all stumble in many ways." (James 3:2a).

We have all stumbled and strayed from the perfect step that was demanded. Thankfully our salvation is not up to us or our own footwork. Thankfully, we have a Savior who walked the road for us, in perfect step. We have a Savior who ended up with holes in his feet, not because he took the scenic path and his sandals wore out, but because his steps on this earth led him to a cross where nails were driven through his feet - where he paid for all the times we stumbled - for all the times we were out of step and turned to walk in our own way. "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6) Jesus tackled the tallest "tall order" ever - to rescue each and every one of the lost sheep - to buy back each and every lost soul in the entire world.

Speaking of the world, the world has its own step patterns. When we are keeping in step with the Spirit and walking in obedience to God's commands, we will be walking in the opposite direction of those who follow the step pattern of the world. Paul instructs us in Romans, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world." (Romans 12:2a) It's a "tall order" to try and walk through a crowd in the opposite direction of everyone else in that crowd - in fact it's tiring. But just as I never leave one of my daughters in the dust when they are tiring from trying to keep in step with me, so God our Father doesn't leave any of his children in the dust. We are promised that, "those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Knowing that it's not up to our own footwork, we should be able to walk around however we want, right? Yes, BUT, don't we want to say thanks and show our love to the one who has taken the pressure off of our feet? "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands." (2 John 1:6) We have the freedom to walk around however we want. But because God has conquered the tallest of "tall orders" in his work of redeeming us who have stumbled in many ways, so that we will one day be able to step into heaven - and because God continues to care for us as he gives us the strength to continue taking life in this world one step at a time, let's show our love to our God. "Let's keep in step with the Spirit."