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Daily Inspiration
in
Immanuel Lutheran Church
2 years ago

Life in the Spirit

Romans 8:1-11 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 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. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

 

Thought for Today

Do you know or have you ever met someone who cannot forgive themselves? Often times they have, because of drugs, alcohol or other addictions of 'fleshly desires', caused immeasurable damage to the relationships with their loved ones: kids, spouse, and parents. More often than not, they have lost the ability to keep steady employment and often have ruined their reputation. They more than likely have huge indebtedness and often times are in jail or prison because of their addiction and the behaviors they exhibited. Often they see themselves as the dead bones from yesterday's devotion.

 

In Roman's chapter 7, Paul writes about our human depravity and the resulting death, the eternal death that we deserve. Chapter 8 begins with a 'There is therefore', indicating a new chapter and beginning that hinges on a significant item. What do you think this is? More appropriately it's a He, Jesus. Because I believe in Him; that He came to earth to fulfill the Law, that by taking on God's wrath (the wrath that I was due because of my sin), and that He rose from the dead, I have the assurance of eternal life. Therefore there is NO condemnation from God towards me. Hosanna and Hallelujah!

 

Because of what Jesus did for us, we are a NEW PERSON in CHRIST! All because there is a new spirit living in us, we have His Ruah, the Holy Spirit living in us. With this understanding we can begin our new life in Jesus. We leave behind the old self and begin a transformational journey toward becoming more like Jesus each and every day. We are forgiven people!

 

Prayer

 Dear Holy Spirit, Thank You for softening my heart by guiding me in discerning my wretchedness and the harm that either I've done or could do(my thoughts) to You and others. Thank You, Jesus for giving me the gift of hope as a new person, one becoming more like You. I love You Jesus. 

 

Devotional Quote

We shall, as we ripen in grace, have greater sweetness towards our fellow Christians. 

― Charles H. Spurgeon

 

Quote of the Day

 God will not let any violence go unpunished, but He Himself will take vengeance on our enemies and will send home to them what they have deserved by the way they have treated us. As He Himself says (Deut. 23:55): “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.”

― Martin Luther