8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
Terrie's Comments:
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus!
However I do see that it is a choice? I see it in this passage and also in my own life experience. If we want to please God and have victory in our lives we need to CHOOSE to think about things that please the spirit and CHOOSE to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. YOU HAVE TO LET the Spirit control your mind so that you will have life and peace!!
Tori's Comments:
Vs. 8 is commonly quoted by Terrie and myself :) It's so lovely and....a relief. I have said several times on this blog that I am a people pleaser, and this verse is like aloe to my sunburn.
God declared an END to sin's control over us.
As far as thinking about things that please the Spirit... on thinking about this, my mind is wavering over the things I put into my mind via books, tv, movies, etc. There are many iffy forms of media that I will keep feeding myself, forgetting that it's only harming me. I'm choosing the option that leads to death rather than life and peace.
I think my major stumbling block when it comes to what I put into my mind is Tv shows. If a show begins to turn sour, I am very reluctant to let it go, usually waiting until after the damage is done.
What are some major stumbling blocks for yall?
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
TV shows for sure. It's still a struggle sometimes, but thankfully not as much as before. There was one sitcom I used to love and watch frequently, but I became convicted that it had way too much garbage in it and finally made a commitment never to watch it again. It's funny how you can get so caught up in fictional characters' lives that you almost miss them when they're gone, but the trade-off is recognizing how much less trash needs to get swept out of your mind daily. Gotta continuously work on my mind's focus in general, though...easily very self-focused and negative at times.
ReplyDeleteMine definitely was TV. I have let most of it go and now I don't crave or even want to watch the garbage I used to. My cell phone is my stumbling Block these days. Even if what I am reading is good it is still a distraction from my family and God.
ReplyDelete