Like a piano, we have many different “keys” within the body of Christ (i.e. the church). Unfortunately, just as a piano’s keys can get out of tune and doesn’t produce the melodious sound we expect, so too do we sometimes experience discord within the church.

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: … hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, … and other sins like these.”

Galatians 5:19‭-‬21 NLT

Just as it is important that a piano be re-tuned regularly by a professional, we too must be tuned by the Holy Spirit. It is only by doing so that we can stay in perfect harmony with our fellow believers.

Apostle Paul gives several specific instructions in Galatians 5.

1. Walk in the Spirit (v16). It is only by walking in the Spirit of God that we will not feed the selfish desires of our human nature. It is our human nature that prevents us from doing the good things we know to do (v17).
2. Be led by the Spirit (v18). If we are guided and led by the Spirit of God, we do not have to fulfill the law of God through our own human effort (which is impossible anyways).
3. Live in the Spirit (v25). Our very lifestyle should reflect the Spirit of God. The reality is that in order to walk (effectively) in the Spirit, we have to live in the Spirit. Those who live according to the Spirit, set their minds on things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5).

“The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 NLT

When we live in, walk in, and are led by the Holy Spirit, we nail the passions and desires of our sinful nature to the cross of Jesus Christ and crucify them there (Galatians 5:24). So we won’t “become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another” (Galatians 5:26).

Think about this for a moment. How can you not murder your fellow believer by speaking ill of them or gossiping about them? (Matthew 5:21-22). How can you not betray your vows to your spouse by not lusting after your co-worker or that random stranger you meet? (Matthew 5:27-28). It’s one thing to try to keep the 10 commandments; it’s another thing to try to keep the perfect law of liberty without the Spirit of God (James 2:8-12; 1:25).