This is probably the hardest thing to do as a Christian: living in the Spirit. The problem is that we are flesh and blood living in a flesh and blood world. Given that is the truth and reality, how is it possible to set our minds to things other than the flesh and blood?
Let’s look at Romans 8:5 today.
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 ESV
To live in the Spirit, the Apostle Paul says we need to set our “minds on the things of the Spirit.” In this passage (read Romans 8:1-16), the Apostle gives us three ways we can practically set our minds to the things of the Spirit today.
1. Seek peace (v. 6-7)
The first way we set our minds to the things of the Spirit is by seeking peace. Here’s what that looks like according to the Apostle Paul:
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.
Romans 8:6-7 ESV
Peace with God is submission to his law. That is to say to love him and to love others. Are we living a life that reflects our love for God and our love for others? Or are we living selfishly in love with our ownselves? If you have trouble answering those questions, then ask yourself: when was the last time you did anything sacrificially? I don’t mean doing something out of guilt, but you actually offered it at your own cost?
When you answer that, then you will know that you are submitting to God’s law instead of allowing your mind to focus on the flesh.
2. Live righteously (v. 10)
The second way we set our minds to the things of the Spirit is by living righteously, or at least putting our thinking that way. The Apostle Paul says in verse 10, that “the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” When we placed our faith in Jesus Christ as our savior, his righteousness was imputed onto us. Meaning that we received his righteousness by proxy as a result of that faith. As a result, we must be filled with thinking and living righteously. That means that we are trending toward integrity, virtue, and purity. In all the activities you engage in today, can you act with integrity, virtue and purity? Or will you allow other motives cover up your righteousness.
I know if you are in business you tend to be working in a “cover yourself” setting, but if you and I act with integrity, virtue, and purity, we’d have covered ourselves with righteousness.
3. Do not live in fear (v. 15)
Lastly, do not not live in fear. If you want to live in the Spirit, then do not live in fear. Look at verse 15. The Apostle Paul writes, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear….”
Living in the flesh is fearful because it is concerned with avoiding death, hurts, and pains. Living in the Spirit is not concerned with those things because we have been freed from death, hurts, and pains. Not to mean that we will never die, nor that we will never be hurt or in pain, but rather that those things will not define us because we are defined by who we are in Jesus Christ– an heir with him to the Kingdom of God. That is an amazing promise that allows us to be bold, because we’re entitled to what our Father in heaven gives us.
There you have three ways to live in the Spirit today. Let’s pray.
Prayer: Father, we seek peace with you, we want your righteousness to be our covering. We want to live without allowing fear govern our lives. We know that without your Son, without your Spirit, we live in the flesh and our minds trend that way. Give us the gift of faith to empower us to live in your Spirit. Thank you. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.
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