Scripture: Roman 8:5 "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, the things of the Spirit."Observation:
1. I know that verse 5 is an extension of verse 4 and that the verses 5-10 are one continuous thought from verse 1 through verse 17; however, I'm not entirely convinced that 5-10 are talking about Christians who are acting as though they are not.
It seems that when Paul says that anyone who acts in the flesh doesn't have the Spirit and anyone without the Spirit is not God's (vs. 9), he is not talking about two shades of believers - he's talking about two shades of people in general: saved and unsaved.
This topic is too big for a SOAP though.
2. Many people, believers and unbelievers, spend their time focused on and debating the laws and rules in the Bible - the "thou shalt not's" - of God, rather than all the blessings that God has for us to experience in this wonderful new life called "born again."
I would compare it to someone who goes to Disney World and spends all three days of their Park Hopper pass walking along the walls saying, "Look at this dumb place. Disney just brought me in here to trap me! These walls are too high, too restrictive! I don't know why they even felt the need to put them up. Disney's just trying to control people! I bet they're just waiting around for people to climb the wall so they can kick them out of the park or yell at them!" But they never once get on a ride.
The walls are there, yes. God doesn't want us stealing, lying, blaspheming His name, being lazy, living our life for entertainment, engaging in sex outside of a marriage, marrying people of the same gender, deceiving people in relationships and business, being greedy, coveting, stealing, etc., etc., etc. Those walls won't change. They won't grow shorter or higher. They just are. Lucky for us the God that created and rules over the universe has a non-negotiable sense of righteousness.
But the point to living a life with God as God (that is, Lord or Master where He calls the shots) is a life that is about peace, promise, joy, love, assurance, hope, purposeful living, healing, strength, compete satisfaction, rest, life, encouragement, success, belonging, victory and I could go on and on.
Why do we choose to be "in the flesh" and look at the walls instead of enjoying the rides?!
Application: I must come away and stay away from the boundaries. The kingdom of God has so, so much more to offer than the empty promises of sin.
Prayer: Thank You for a life of abundant joy, for a better way of living, for an unyielding and undefeatable and unending hope - thank You for giving me You. You are as good as it gets! I love You. Amen.
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