Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 144 – Romans 8:5-8 – Life And Peace – Growing As Disciples
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8 (NIV)
Life And Peace
Do you want to have life and peace? Who would not want life and peace? You would be surprised; many people do not want life and peace. Yes, of course I want life and peace. What must I do to have life and peace? That is a very good question. You must do two things if you want to have life and peace. You have my full attention. That’s good. First, you must not set your heart and mind and life on the sinful nature. You must not live according to the desires of the sinful nature. You must leave your old life of sin behind. You must become dead to sin and the old life you once lived. That old life leads to death. That old life is hostile to me. That old life wants to live and walk in darkness. That old life hates the light. That old life cannot submit to my law. Those who think and speak and act according to the sinful nature cannot live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me. So, if you want life and peace you must leave your old sinful life and all its thoughts and words and actions far behind you. This is step one, do you understand? Yes, I understand quite clearly. That’s good.
What is step two? What else must I do if I want life and peace? I first want to make one point very clear. What’s that? You will never be able to take step one without taking step two. Can you explain that to me? Gladly, you will never be able to be dead to sin unless you come alive to Me. You will never be able to leave your old sinful life and its nature without allowing me to give you a new nature. You will never be able to leave the darkness of your old life unless you come to walk in the light with me. You will never be able to stop thinking worldly and fleshly and evil thoughts of the sinful nature unless you come to think thoughts of the Spirit. You must take off the stinky and dirty clothes of your old life and put on the pure and clean clothes of the new life I have for you. You will never be able to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me unless you think the thoughts, speak the words and live the life in the Spirit that I have for you. Do you understand what I am saying to you? Yes, I do. I will leave my old life behind and live the new life you have secured for me. Then I will have life and peace. Yes, you will. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, I know my heart and mind are being bombarded daily to try to entice me to think of the sinful nature. I am in a battle and war. I will turn my heart and mind over to you. Use your word to help me to think of things of the Spirit so I can have life and peace. Amen
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Promises – Day 144 – Romans 8-5-8 – Life And Peace – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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