Romans 8:1-8 (NIV) 8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,
4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
What does the Lord want me to hear at this time from this passage?
The first thing that gets my attention is “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. I am free of the penalty of death for my sins because Jesus died for me. It is a huge relief that I can live free of the burden of my punishment. However, my sin is costly. It cost Jesus his life and it cost me peace and joy with Jesus.
My thinking does not need to be controlled by what my flesh desires because I can set my mind on what the Spirit desires. Through the Spirit I have life and not death. Because of the Holy Spirit in me I can please God. However, I still have my sinful nature constantly fighting to draw me away from God and enticing me with other things that are not honoring to God.
This last week a movie came on TV and I felt the nudge that I should turn the station. The movie was dealing with the supernatural spirits and is something God has told us to avoid. The old nature won. I watched the movie but did not enjoy it because of the constant nagging inside. My old self won but, Jesus did not give up on me. I confessed my sin and was forgiven. Jesus lovingly gave me Gracious Restoration.
Life is so much more enjoyable when we listen to the Holy Spirit’s nudging’s and obey. Jesus does not want to deprive us but to protect us and to free us from the restraints of sin. He is Radically Available to us all the time. We are always Living in His Presence.
I want all of my decisions to be Honoring and Glorifying to Jesus because He alone is Worthy of the all the Honor and Glory and Praise and Obedience I can give Him.
How about you? Are you choosing life with Jesus or the desires of the flesh?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for always loving and caring about me and for desiring the best for me.
Forgive me when I disobey and ignore you. I need your help to let the sinful part of me die. I desire to live in complete unity with you. I ask you to restore and renew me so that I am free to receive all the grace, mercy, strength, power, wisdom, peace, joy, hope and LIFE you have for me. I choose to love you, worship you and trust you in everything today.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen
cjs