The Apostle Paul was not too big on shades of gray. He saw things as black and white. You are either in Christ or you are not. You are either living by grace or you are living under the law. You are either living by the Spirit or you are living by the flesh.
Although Paul sees these two ways of living as being completely opposite of each other, he does recognize that these different ways of living are like forces constantly fighting each other. In Chapter five Paul helps us understand what it is like for us when we are living the Life in Christ, or living by the Spirit. The characteristics of our life are: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
In like manner Paul reveals what it is like when we live by the flesh, or our sinful nature. The characteristics of the flesh life are: “sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.”
Do you recognize anything in this list in your life? I do. Paul says those living this way will not inherit the Kingdom of God. What do I do? In verse 24 Paul says I can crucify the sinful passions of the flesh. How in the world do I do that?
By having a made up mind that I want to follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of my life.
Paul has given us two lists: The way of the Spirit; and the way of the flesh.
Choose this day whom you will serve.
What does today’s reading reveal to you about God?
What does it reveal to you about yourself?
Think about what God wants you to do or remember about this passage.
Does God want you to change anything in your life?
No comments:
Post a Comment