August 3, 2026

Living in the Spirit's Fullness

Paul draws a striking contrast in this passage between two very different kinds of influence. On one hand, there is the influence of wine, which leads to dissipation—a loss of control, a life pulled apart at the seams. On the other hand, there is the influence of the Holy Spirit, which leads to fullness and wholeness. The comparison isn't accidental; both describe being under an outside power, but the results couldn't be more different.

Alistair Begg's devotional reminds us that being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event but a daily, ongoing reality for the believer. Just as being drunk affects how a person thinks, speaks, and acts, being filled with the Spirit shapes the whole of our lives—our attitudes, our words, our choices. The question isn't whether we'll be influenced by something outside ourselves, but which influence will govern us.

This fullness isn't meant to be abstract or mystical in a way that leaves us wondering if we've attained it. Begg points to obedience and the fruit of the Spirit as the visible evidence of this filling. A life increasingly marked by love, joy, peace, patience, and the other qualities Paul lists elsewhere is a life under the Spirit's control. It's less about a dramatic experience and more about a daily surrender that shows up in ordinary moments.

There's real comfort here for those who feel the pull of lesser influences—things that promise fullness but leave us empty. Paul isn't simply issuing a prohibition; he's pointing toward something better. The call to be filled with the Spirit is an invitation to trade dissipation for direction, chaos for Christ-centered control.

For a fuller look at what it means to walk in step with the Spirit day by day, be sure to read Alistair Begg's complete devotional, "Living in the Spirit's Fullness."