Chances are if you come across an article or a book that promises to teach you the secrets of success in your chosen occupation, you'll read it. If your primary job is mothering, an article titled "Six Things You Must Know to Be a Successful Mother" would pull you in, as would "Decor Tips that Make Your Home Sing" if you are an interior decorator. For the Christian, Romans 8, our reading today, would be such an article. (Thus the title "How to live as Abba's child.")
In it Paul sets up life as a choice between two options. We can choose to live according to the flesh, i.e. governed by our physical and emotional life. Or we can choose to live according to the Spirit - governed by the Holy Spirit who indwells us.
Found in this passage are clues on how to live that Spirit-governed life.
1. First, we need to be "In Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). That means we've accepted Him as Saviour (from the law's demands - Romans 8:2-4) and Lord.
2. We need to "set our minds" on the things of the Spirit. How does this look practically?
- We submit our thoughts to God's scrutiny (Psalm 19:14).
- We fill our minds with worthy things. One way to do this is to read, memorize, and meditate on Scripture (Joshua 1:8).
- We direct our minds to God's goodness to us (Psalm 48:9) .
- We take to heart the advice of Bible writers on how else to direct our thoughts (Philippians 4:6-8).
3. We even entrust our physical health and well-being to the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11).
4. We get and follow God's leading (Romans 8:14).
5. We have the assurance that God is our Father (our Abba "Daddy" Father) and we are His children and heirs (inheriting both suffering and glory - Romans 8:15-17).
Now to put all that into practice!
(From the archives)
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