Bible League: Living His Word The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.— Romans 8:6 NIV The Apostle Paul often uses the word "flesh" as a metaphor for the sinful spiritual state of human beings. In other words, he often uses a word that usually refers to something physical as a metaphor for something spiritual. "Flesh," in this sense of the term, applies to human beings in so far as they are spiritually dominated and directed by the weakness of their sinful spiritual nature. To be fleshly, then, means that one is sinful. Even more, to be fleshly means that one is too weak and miserable to do what is right and good. The mind governed by the flesh, Paul tells us, is death. This means that the mind of a person that is spiritually dominated and directed by their sin is leading that person down a pathway that leads to death. It is a pathway that leads to death and destruction in the now and eternal death in the life hereafter. Paul goes on to say, "The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:7). The mind governed by the Spirit, on the other hand, is life and peace. This means that the mind of a person, spiritually dominated and directed by the Holy Spirit, is leading a pathway to life and peace. It is a pathway that leads to life and peace now and in the life to come. Instead of a mind that leads one nowhere and accomplishes nothing worthwhile, it is a mind that flourishes and accomplishes things that have eternal value and significance. How can you transition from the death and destruction of the flesh to the life and peace of the Holy Spirit? There is only one way. You must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. You will receive the Holy Spirit, and the power of the Spirit will set you free from the power of your fleshly sin nature. (Romans 8:1-4). The flesh may still cause problems, but the power of the Spirit will move you to become a powerful force for good in the world. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Samuel 15, 16 2 Samuel 15 -- Absalom's Conspiracy; David Flees Jerusalem NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Samuel 16 -- David and Ziba; Shimei Curses David; Absalom Enters Jerusalem NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 20:27-47 Luke 20 -- Jesus' Authority; Parable of the Tenants; Give to Caesar; Marriage at the Resurrection NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Fearing people is a dangerous trap,but trusting the LORD means safety. Insight Fear of people can hamper everything you try to do. In extreme forms, it can make you afraid to leave your home. By contrast, fear of God—respect, reverence, and trust—is liberating. Challenge Why fear people who can do no eternal harm? Instead, fear God who can turn the harm intended by others into good for those who trust him. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Revelation 16:15 Blessed is he that watcheth."We die daily," said the apostle. This was the life of the early Christians; they went everywhere with their lives in their hands. We are not in this day called to pass through the same fearful persecutions: if we were, the Lord would give us grace to bear the test; but the tests of Christian life, at the present moment, though outwardly not so terrible, are yet more likely to overcome us than even those of the fiery age. We have to bear the sneer of the world--that is little; its blandishments, its soft words, its oily speeches, its fawning, its hypocrisy, are far worse. Our danger is lest we grow rich and become proud, lest we give ourselves up to the fashions of this present evil world, and lose our faith. Or if wealth be not the trial, worldly care is quite as mischievous. If we cannot be torn in pieces by the roaring lion, if we may be hugged to death by the bear, the devil little cares which it is, so long as he destroys our love to Christ, and our confidence in him. I fear me that the Christian church is far more likely to lose her integrity in these soft and silken days than in those rougher times. We must be awake now, for we traverse the enchanted ground, and are most likely to fall asleep to our own undoing, unless our faith in Jesus be a reality, and our love to Jesus a vehement flame. Many in these days of easy profession are likely to prove tares, and not wheat; hypocrites with fair masks on their faces, but not the true-born children of the living God. Christian, do not think that these are times in which you can dispense with watchfulness or with holy ardour; you need these things more than ever, and may God the eternal Spirit display his omnipotence in you, that you may be able to say, in all these softer things, as well as in the rougher, "We are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Daily Light on the Daily Path Acts 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, • so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, • that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Revelation 12:1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; Revelation 19:7,8 "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." • It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Romans 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; John 17:22 "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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