Galatians 5:15

The false teachers had caused trouble in Galatia. As a result, the Christians were fighting and arguing with each other. The word ‘hurt’ means to bite. It also means to speak in a way that hurts a person. And ‘damage’ means to eat. These words describe the way that animals tear apart their food. They tear it apart in order to eat it. The Christians were behaving very badly. Their desires were controlling them. They were behaving like wild animals. So Paul had to warn them that the situation was very serious. In the end, their behaviour would destroy their friendships and their *church.

Verse 16-17

When people become Christians, their natural desires do not disappear. These desires can be very strong. It is easy to be selfish. But the Holy Spirit teaches Christians how to live in the right way. The Holy Spirit always pleases God. People want to please themselves. Every day we have to choose how to behave. It is not easy, because it is a *spiritual struggle. Paul wrote about this in Romans chapter 7. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. When we live by the Spirit, we are not selfish. Instead, we live to please God.