Romans 8:5-6 - Spirit Living.
Romans 8:5-6 (NIV) Those who live according
to the flesh have their minds set on what the
flesh desires; but those who live in accordance
with the Spirit have their minds set on what the
Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is
death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life
and peace.
Romans 8:5-6 (NLT) 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.
INTRODUCTION
Paul divides people into two categories -
those who let themselves be controlled by their
sinful natures, and those who follow after the Holy
Spirit. All of us would be in the first category if
Jesus hadnt offered us a way out. Once we have
said yes to Jesus, we will want to continue
following him, because his way brings life and peace.
Daily we must consciously choose to center our
lives on God. Use the Bible to discover Gods
guidelines, and then follow them. In every perplexing
situation ask yourself, What would Jesus want me to
do? When the Holy Spirit points out what is
right, do it eagerly. For more on our sinful
natures versus our new life in Christ, see Romans
6:6-8, Ephes. 4:22-24; Col. 3:3-15. [Life
Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life
You havent been sentenced to a life of
frustration and stress. You dont have to be stuck in
your hurts, habits, and hang-ups. God has
something far better for you.
We all want peace and freedom - and the
good news is it may be closer than you think.
The Bible teaches that, for those who
follow Jesus, peace is a mindset. If youre not
at peace, its your choice.
In the next few months, the economy more
than likely wont change. Your work situation
wont change. Your broken relationships may not
get healed.
But your mindset can change. That will be
the difference between a life of
self-destruction and a life of peace.
The Bible says in Romans 8:5-6, Those
who live according to the flesh have their minds
set on what the flesh desires; but those who
live in accordance with the Spirit have their
minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind
governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed
by the Spirit is life and peace (NIV).
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you better
thoughts - thoughts that bring peace, not
frustration. You need to look at your situation
differently: in the Holy Spirit way.
Will you look at your life the way
youve always looked at it, or will you look at it
the way God does? Remember, the mind governed
by the flesh is death. Choosing to look at
your situation through your own lens is
self-destructive.
Ask the Holy Spirit to replace the
self-destructive thoughts with his own. When youve got
something negative in your life, dont resist it.
Replace it.
If you turn on the TV, and theres
something on that you dont want to watch or you
shouldnt watch, you cant just sit there and tell
yourself you shouldnt be watching it. You have to
change the channel. You replace it - immediately.
You choose what you dwell on. Ask the
Holy Spirit to give you the thoughts you need to
focus on. Hell do it! He will change your
perspective. And that will change your life. [Daily
Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
COMMENTARY
It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to
escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken.
Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them.
"Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
not one." "The carnal mind is enmity against
God: for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be." Job 14:4; Romans 8:7.
Education, culture, the exercise of the will, human
effort, all have their proper sphere, but here they
are powerless. They may produce an outward
correctness of behavior, but they cannot change the
heart; they cannot purify the springs of life.
There must be a power working from within, a new
life from above, before men can be changed from
sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace
alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the
soul, and attract it to God, to holiness. {SC
18.1}
The Saviour said, "Except a man be born
from above," unless he shall receive a new heart,
new desires, purposes, and motives, leading to a
new life, "he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 3:3, margin. The idea that it is necessary
only to develop the good that exists in man by
nature, is a fatal deception. "The natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for
they are foolishness unto him: neither can he
know them, because they are spiritually
discerned." "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must
be born again." 1 Corinthians 2:14; John 3:7.
Of Christ it is written, "In Him was life; and
the life was the light of men" - the only "name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved." John 1:4; Acts 4:12. {SC 18.2}
CLOSING THOUGHT
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and
he that loseth his life for my sake shall find
it. Matthew 10:39
Here is a paradox - a seemingly
contradictory statement. But Jesus wasn't just playing
with words. He knew that real life - life in the
Spirit on earth, life forever in heaven - comes
only when people surrender everything to Him. "I
am the way, the truth, and the life," Jesus
said (John 14:6). His new life (1 Corinthians
15:22) is better than anything we could lose!
[Daily Bible Promise Book By Barbour Publishing]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Romans 8:6 - HOLY SPIRIT LIVING!!!
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230331-0855.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230212-0908.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220613-1114.html
Romans 8:5, 6 - Spirit Living.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150723-1506.html
Romans 8:8 - Live In The Spirit And Not The
Flesh.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180306-1027.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
