Galatians 5:25-26 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. NASB
It is hard to separate these two verses. They go together in the same context of living and walking by the Spirit and staying humble. We can’t do one without the other. When you read what Paul is telling the church in Galatia in chapter 5, you will see that every disciple who had the Spirit inside of them needs to let the Spirit guide them. How do we do that? This is something very hard to explain as Paul uses a lesson in botany to explain it. You see, the Spirit is like a fruit tree. It produces fruit, because it’s growing. It’s receiving the nutrients that it needs in order to reproduce.
Paul is teaching in these last two verses in chapter 5 that “IF” we call ourselves followers of Jesus, IF we call ourselves children of God, IF we have been justified by faith and, If we are in Christ then we need to live and walk by the Spirit. That means You are working to transform your mind. You are working everyday to make changes that will make you look more like Jesus. It is a constant struggle, and it requires suffering to not be led into the world. It is not enough to simply say that we are Christians, we need to show it by producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
To be a fruit producer is attainable. This is something that we can do, but we must stay humble. Don’t try to do it to compete, brag, or in order to please people. Instead, let the fruit of the Holy Spirit do the talking. Live by the Spirit and walk by the Spirit!