Romans 8:5-8
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. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
This verse makes the choice sound so easy--who in the world would choose death over life and peace?! But so often, we do, mostly just because we don't make a conscious choice toward being "spiritually minded". I like the way the Good News Bible translates this verse: "To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace." Living life ruled by the flesh (or "human nature") is easy, it's what comes naturally. However, it's also deadly. If we want "life and peace", we must continually choose to be controlled by the Spirit. So what does a life controlled by the Spirit look like? Well....
- If the carnal mind is enmity against God, that insinuates that the spiritual mind is friends with God. Jesus said that we become His friends by following His commandments, and walking in the revelation that He gives of His Father (God) and His will. (You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:14-15)
- If the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, it is safe to conclude that the spiritual mind is subject to the law of God. Someone who is "spiritually minded" chooses on a daily basis to lay down their own will and yield to the word and will of God.
- If those who are in the flesh cannot please God, then those who are in the Spirit can please God. How do we please God? Well, we know that we must have faith--"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6) Beyond that, a great way to learn ways to please Him is to study the lives of those in Scripture who "pleased God". Enoch, Noah, Abraham, David, and many others are said to have pleased God. (Hebrews 11, the "hall of faith", is a great place to start!)
May the Lord richly bless you as you live a life controlled by the Spirit!
Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website