In the Spirit

"Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 1:3).

I haven't written in my blog for a while, but I was really moved by the quiet time that I spent with the Lord today and I felt that I should post it because I think that we would all me much happier and healthier if we lived according to the Spirit more.

Bible Verses:

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts" (Rom. 13:14).

"For if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's" (Rom. 14:8).

"For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 14:17).

"So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another" (Rom. 14:19).

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 15:13).

"...by the love of the Spirit" (Rom. 15:30).

Examination:

Paul is reminding the Romans of the basic points of the Gospel and living according to the Christian way. There are 2 levels on which he speaks: material and spiritual (Rom. 15:27). Materially, if we live or die, we are the Lord's. But spiritually, we are to pursue the Spirit, which is Life. When we pursue these things of the Spirit, meaning that they do not belong to us but only to the Spirit, we are sowing in the Spirit to reap life. We are to die to the flesh by making for it no provisions. Rather we should pursue righteousness, peace, joy, love, building each other up, hope, power of the Spirit.

Applications for Spiritual Growth:

What provisions do I make for the flesh?

I like to sleep too much, I am too emotional, judging, impatient, bitter and spiritually lazy.

How should I treat my body, life and others as though they are the Lord's?

I am way too focused on the material and not the spiritual (i.e. clothes, how I look, what others think about me, how I feel, what I want, etc.)

How do I pursue the Spirit? How can I do this more?

I'm going to let God show me this one, because as Addison Road's song says: What do I know of Holy?

Please pray this prayer for you and for me:

Lord, you are Life and your Spirit, who lives in me is power, peace and love. Help me to feed the Spirit and to die to my flesh everyday. In the name of Jesus, bind my heart and mind and all that I am to serve the Spirit in righteousness and truth. I thank you that you have given me everything I need. The only thing left for me is to choose. Give me the strength to follow the narrow path of your will, the endurance to stay in the Spirit and the discipline to die to my flesh. Amen.