06-Jul-2024 – Follow after Spirit for life
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. – Romans 7:18
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. – Romans 8:5
This well-known portion of the Bible speaks to our inherent weakness in the flesh and our inability to perform good deeds before God, even when we desire to do good.
Based on these verses, we understand that the flesh and the Spirit represent two distinct ways of life or guiding principles. Romans 7:18 concludes that nothing good dwells in our flesh. Here, “flesh” refers to both the physical body and the mind or soul, which drives the body’s actions according to its desires.
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. – Genesis 6:5
This verse reminds us that the heart, often understood as the mind, continually thinks evil. Consequently, the body, driven by this evil mind, manifests evil actions.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: – Romans 8:3
According to His gracious will, God sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross to redeem us from sin and its burden. By believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of our salvation, we are made new and our spirits are revived.
This revival enables us to interact with God through His Holy Spirit, who dwells in our spirit. Our spirit naturally desires to do good in God’s sight and to glorify Him. It cannot conceive evil but can be resisted by our mind or soul.
Another important truth is that both the mind and the spirit can only manifest in the physical realm through the body. As Romans 8:5 suggests, if we allow our body to manifest the mind’s imaginations, we follow the flesh. But if we submit our body to manifest the influence of our spirit by the power of the Holy Spirit, we follow the Spirit.
In practical terms, if you follow your instincts, the result is death, meaning there will be no positive growth or result in that area. However, if you follow the Spirit, believing in the communication between you and God, receiving His word, and acting accordingly, you are following the Spirit, leading to life. This means you will see positive changes in your situations.
We are all weak in the flesh. But by believing in Jesus and His word in your situation, you overcome this weakness. Today, the choice is yours. Will you believe His word or follow your flesh?
Prayer:
Dear loving heavenly Father, thank you for your love and grace. Thank you for teaching me today about walking according to the Spirit instead of the flesh. Help me, Lord, to test this every time and in everything I do. Help me to do only things that glorify your name. I pray in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen!
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