When my daughter Ann was in the high school marching band, I loved to watch the young musicians march in step. Whether they were performing before a panel of judges at a district competition, at halftime during a football game, or on tour in Austria, they moved as one to the cadence of the drums and the lead of the drum major.

Galatians 5:25 states, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." That last phrase can also be translated, "Keep in step with the Spirit." It means that as we walk along in our Christian lives, we are to follow the Spirit's lead. We are to be in harmony with Him. If we get out of step, follow a wrong cadence, or stray off the correct pathway, the results will be obvious (vv.19-21).

How can we tell if we are walking in step with the Spirit? Paul spelled it out clearly in Galatians 5. We will not be guilty of the practices mentioned in verses 19 through 21. Rather, the fruit of the Spirit--love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control--will be clearly evident in our lives (vv.22-23).

How would you rate yourself when it comes to walking in step with the Spirit? Are you in cadence? Or are you following a drumbeat of your own making?  — David C. Egner