Stride for Stride

You ever walk next to a person with longer legs than you and tried to keep up with their steps?  I remember as a child, watching my father’s legs move as I walked next to him. He was, of course, bigger than I was and for every 1 of his steps I would take 2 or 3.  I could never keep up with him unless he slowed down or if he held my hand and allowed me to jump between strides.

When walking the believer’s life out in faith, we are in the same position as that child with his father.  Our stride is by no means a match for the stride of our heavenly Father. However, we are called to “keep in step” with God as we live by the Spirit.  How can this be possible? My finite, insufficient character cannot match the infinite wisdom and omnipotent power of God. How can I keep stride with the Almighty God of the universe?

In chapter 5 of the book of Galatians, Paul outlines what the deeds of the flesh (sin) are and how they compare to the fruit of the Spirit.  A quick list of the flesh deeds include gems like: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and (just to make sure we don’t miss any of this goodness!) things like these.  I need to take a shower! So deeds, or works if you rather, of the flesh are basically all the things that we know are impure, immoral, unjust, ungodly. The deeds of the flesh are sin. For good reason Paul warns that those who do such works “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” The word inherit here means what you think.  There shall be no place found for those who do the works of the flesh in the Kingdom of God.

Listing the fruit that comes from the Spirit we find: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  I feel better now. Just in case there might be any confusion, the love referenced on the list is not related to the sexual immorality referenced on the flesh deeds list.  In other words, going to bed with somebody you aren’t married to because you “love” them ends up on the deeds list, not the fruit list. But I digress.

So, we know the evident works of the flesh and we understand that living by the Spirit will bring the fruit thereof.  But how does this pertain to keeping stride with God? Well, the works of the flesh are in existence to keep us from God.  Paul states that they “work against the Spirit”. The works of the flesh are directly opposed to the Spirit of God and are meant to keep us from walking according to the Spirit.  Picture the child walking by his father with shackles on his feet. This is what the deeds of the flesh (sin) do to us. However, when we are walking freed from the shackle of sin, we are able to freely step, jump and leap next to God as we keep stride with Him.  Sometimes He may slow slightly to help us catch up and all the time He will have a hold of our hand so that in case we do fail, fall into the deed of the flesh, our way back up is sure through the power of His right arm.

That is the glorious truth for the child of God.  It is your truth if you have given your life to Him through salvation in Jesus Christ.  If you have not, it is an offer that remains extended to you. God’s hand is extended to you.  Take hold if you want to walk with Him - stride for stride.

Galatians 5:19-25