“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5
We know this world offers us many pains and struggles as we journey on towards heaven, and yet we often find ourselves looking for peace and joy from the very things which would hinder and take it away. We strive to find contentment, ending up always back in the same place saying, “if I just ____.” We seek to find meaning and purpose in all that we do. Many give up hope and simply trudge through life looking forward to that next bright spot in the midst of dreariness. We fail to see the importance of every word, every action, every thought that we hold captive.
The only way to change this is to place God first in all that we do. No one ever admits that God is only important on Sunday morning, yet we end up living exactly that way. I tell you the truth, how we view God and His role in our lives will determine how we handle the cards dealt to us. We can strive to make this world comfortable and peaceful for us and strive to give our children all the advantages this world has to offer, we can strive to motivate them and to make the most of all our opportunities and resources; but unless we prioritize and nurture our spiritual lives, we will miss out on the meaning, purpose and joy of life.
To bring this into your life, wholly live according the Spirit, setting your mind on the things of the Spirit. See how God has formed you and placed you in a unique place at a unique time in order to serve Him in all you say and do. This world wants you to make yourself better by remembering your past errors and trying to improve upon them. God says bury your past, your sins, your problems and indiscretions, bury them with Christ and rise a new person. Begin each day as a new person in Christ, not as a servant to sin, but as a servant to Christ. Not compelled by the Law but driven by the Gospel.
How? Remember your baptism when you wake up each morning. God made you His child, transferred you from the reign of sin and darkness into His kingdom of life and light. You are no longer a slave to sin, but now you are a child of God, called to serve Him by loving your neighbor; be it a spouse, parent, worker or neighbor, serving all in love. Not reluctantly, but joyfully for God has called you, and only you, to do just that. Seeing God serving others through your hands and voice brings meaning and purpose and joy to all we do. Could others do the work which you are doing? Possibly. But they weren’t called by God to do it, you were. May your faith enliven every act and every word bringing glory to the one and only true God, in whose name you were baptized: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
We know this world offers us many pains and struggles as we journey on towards heaven, and yet we often find ourselves looking for peace and joy from the very things which would hinder and take it away. We strive to find contentment, ending up always back in the same place saying, “if I just ____.” We seek to find meaning and purpose in all that we do. Many give up hope and simply trudge through life looking forward to that next bright spot in the midst of dreariness. We fail to see the importance of every word, every action, every thought that we hold captive.
The only way to change this is to place God first in all that we do. No one ever admits that God is only important on Sunday morning, yet we end up living exactly that way. I tell you the truth, how we view God and His role in our lives will determine how we handle the cards dealt to us. We can strive to make this world comfortable and peaceful for us and strive to give our children all the advantages this world has to offer, we can strive to motivate them and to make the most of all our opportunities and resources; but unless we prioritize and nurture our spiritual lives, we will miss out on the meaning, purpose and joy of life.
To bring this into your life, wholly live according the Spirit, setting your mind on the things of the Spirit. See how God has formed you and placed you in a unique place at a unique time in order to serve Him in all you say and do. This world wants you to make yourself better by remembering your past errors and trying to improve upon them. God says bury your past, your sins, your problems and indiscretions, bury them with Christ and rise a new person. Begin each day as a new person in Christ, not as a servant to sin, but as a servant to Christ. Not compelled by the Law but driven by the Gospel.
How? Remember your baptism when you wake up each morning. God made you His child, transferred you from the reign of sin and darkness into His kingdom of life and light. You are no longer a slave to sin, but now you are a child of God, called to serve Him by loving your neighbor; be it a spouse, parent, worker or neighbor, serving all in love. Not reluctantly, but joyfully for God has called you, and only you, to do just that. Seeing God serving others through your hands and voice brings meaning and purpose and joy to all we do. Could others do the work which you are doing? Possibly. But they weren’t called by God to do it, you were. May your faith enliven every act and every word bringing glory to the one and only true God, in whose name you were baptized: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.