October 23 – Life in the Spirit – Romans 8
As one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, I find it difficult to limit the length of today’s devotional. Chapter eight begins with the challenge for all Christians to follow the Holy Spirit and not the flesh. Paul points out, in verses 6-11, the choice we make between what mindset we choose to approach our life will determine our degree of peace, and if we will please God or not. We are either carnally minded or spiritually minded. As Paul continues in the chapter, he describes being led by the Holy Spirit. If we applied these verses, we would find that many Christians that claim to being led by the Holy Spirit are, in fact, not being led by the Spirit but by the flesh. In verses 26-27 we read how the Holy Spirit helps us to pray. He helps us to pray in the will of God, and intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray. Paul finishes the chapter by speaking about the love of God. There is so many more nuggets of wisdom, truth, and helps in this chapter. Let me challenge you to pick a verse or two, write them on a card or note pad, and review them throughout the day.
I must share a couple of my favorite passages in today’s reading:
1) When a child of God doubts his salvation: Romans 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
2) When you question circumstances in your life: Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
3). When you feel lonely and don’t feel loved: Romans 8:37-39 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
