Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

We have two phrases in that verse: “live by the Spirit” and “keep in step with the Spirit.” Paul also uses the phrases “walk by the Spirit” and being “led by the Spirit.”

Let’s look at the other phrases and then finish up with “keeping in step with the Spirit.”

Here are other verses containing those phrases. From the verses below, what do we know about living, walking, and being led by the Spirit?

Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

 

Galatians 5:16 (NASB) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

 

Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

 

Romans 8:14 (NLT) For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

 

Living in the Spirit reminds me of the verse below, which doesn’t actually use that exact phrase.

Romans 8:10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

The Spirit is life because of righteousness. If we are alive in the Spirit, then our minds are on the things of the Spirit, and we live to please God instead of living to selfishly please the desires of our flesh, which is anything we can want that’s not God. We are free from the law, but we are slaves of God and righteousness.

Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Romans 6:18 (NLT) Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

As children of God, we have been given the Spirit of life and have received the righteousness of Christ and live the right way because of it, always thinking on God and the things of God, because that’s what our heart truly desires after.

If we are living that way, having life in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, and walking in the Spirit, then we can keep in step with the Spirit.

The English expression “to keep in step with” something means to be in agreement with or to conform to something.

I think the verse below will be a key verse for us to understand this.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

We aren’t to become like the world. We’re to become like Jesus. We can do that by setting our mind on God and the things of God. Then, when we are faced with something, we’ll know what’s of God and what’s not, what is good and what’s not, what is pleasing to Him and what’s not, and what His will is in all that we’re doing.

Keeping in step with the Spirit is really the same as walking in the Spirit and living in the Spirit and being led by the Spirit. We no longer live; Christ lives in us. We need to live His way. We can do it by knowing His word and choosing to devote ourselves to Him. We devote our thinking to Him because we’ve devoted our hearts to Him. If our hearts are given fully to Him, then we are desiring to be with Him, to cling to Him, to hold fast. If we are with Him all the time, then we are one with Him and are living in step with Him.

Don’t worry so much about what God wants you to do. He wants you to be. Be His. Be His alone and trust Him with the rest. He’s big enough, powerful enough, and wise enough to get you where He wants you to be and doing the things He wants you to do. He’s not out to show us what to do so we can then go do it ourselves. He wants us with Him. If we are truly walking with Him, how could we be in the wrong place doing the wrong thing? Look to Jesus. Cling to Jesus. Hold fast. He’ll carry you along from there.

Lesson Point: To keep in step with the Spirit, we need to keep our hearts and minds devoted to God.

Challenge Question: Can you say that you walk with Jesus (keeping in step with Spirit) all day? Are there times when you know you are with Him in fellowship, knowing His presence, and times when you know you have lost connection and are living in the flesh? What makes the difference? How can you keep your mind on the Lord during those times?