January 18, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

A New Lifestyle

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Opening Prayer

Unto You, Lord, my heart is open. Help me to be unafraid and committed to obedience in all things.

Read Romans 8:1-17

[1] 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. [9] You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. [10] But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. [11] And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. [12] Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation-but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. [13] For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. [14] For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. [15] The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright &copy 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.&reg Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

Reflect on the thrill of being adopted into the family of the King of the Universe. It’s amazing, isn’t it?

The way our inner disposition controls the way we live is a regular theme in the Bible (e.g. Jer. 31:33,34; Ezek. 36:25,26).  Paul again offers two contrasting lifestyles (5-8). Note how he connects people’s way of life to their underlying way of thinking. The word translated “mind” (5-7) indicates the direction of a person’s will, or their “mindset” (Eph. 5:17). The convictions of our hearts will steer the course of our lives. So, says Paul, having the mindset of the Spirit will enable the believer who already lives in the Spirit (9) to live according to the Spirit (4b). If I truly want to please God, I need to nurture a disposition of heart and mind that is both Spirit-led and Spirit-filled. That challenges me to ask: what am I filling my mind with? If I am serious about growing in the Christian life, am I seeking to fill my mind with spiritual food? Do I engage with Scripture? Do I really seek God in prayer? This isn’t optional; we have an obligation to live in a Spirit-guided way (12; Eph. 4:22-24).  

Paul wants us to know the assurance of “no condemnation” (1) while also heeding the warning of v. 13. We need this balance in our lives.  If the Spirit is truly present in our lives, we will produce fruit, but the Spirit does not do his work without our response, and we can only do this through the Spirit (Gal. 5:16,17,25).

We are the dearly loved children of the King of the universe! We will never be rejected. If we really understand this, how can we not break out in amazed praise (15,16)? And what a motivation to put to death the misdeeds of the body (13)!

Apply

What things shape your mind and thoughts? Allow the Holy Spirit to be such a presence in your life that you feed on what is true and pure (Phil. 4:8).

Closing prayer

Holy Spirit, thank You for leading me to become a child of the Father. May my insecurities disappear as I realize I’m not an orphan but an adopted, beloved child.

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