Walking it Out

Most of us have a computer in one of our pockets at any time we are awake. It can be used as a telephone also. It can likely be used as a map service that has at least major highways anywhere on the planet, and can show you where you are in relation to the map if you have a signal. That “if” is important.

It uses a certain kind of signal to make a phone call, interacting with the nearest of thousands of cell phone towers. If you are driving, you hope that the next tower picks up your call to continue it. If you are driving in a remote place, no tower may be near. If you drive through a valley, the signals nearby may not reach the depth of the valley, and you could lose your connection. It uses a different kind of signal for the mapping data. That signal is interacting with more than one satellite, so that the computer can discern where you are by calculating how close you are to which satellites. It uses another kind of signal to connect to the internet through Wi-Fi. That one is less powerful, so you have to be close to stay connected. Bluetooth is less powerful than most Wi-Fi signals, so you have to be even closer to stay connected to another device with it.

The point I am making with those technical pictures is that if you get out of range, you are not communicating with the source of information you want access to. Below are several translations of Galatians 5:24-25. Right after Paul wrote that the power to respond to life in righteousness is found in the fruit of the Spirit (verses 22-23), he wrote that we only have that power to the extent that we are in communication with and under the influence of the Spirit.

Stay connected. Stay influenced. Stay awesome.

Moreover, those who belong to the Messiah Yeshua have put their old nature to death on the stake, along with its passions and desires. Since it is through the Spirit that we have Life, let it also be through the Spirit that we order our lives day by day.

Complete Jewish Bible

Now those of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, we should also walk by the Spirit.

BEREAN LITERAL BIBLE

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.

Holman Christian Standard Bible

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

New King James Version

And those who are Christ’s have put to death on the cross the flesh with its passions and its evil desires. If we are living by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us be guided.

Bible in Basic English