Romans 8:6-11
6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law—indeed it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Reflection
This reminds me of an expression I've heard in the past that seems to get bantered around as to the original author of the sentence that so appropriately applies to this passage. "You are not a body with a soul but rather you are a soul with a body."
When we received the Holy Spirit all things changed. We are living a life with God running through our veins. I'm not saying that we become God, but more like that God invades our life and our thinking and dwells richly upon our minds so much that God runs through all the facets of our flesh and mind and soul.
Our desires for unity and oneness with God become so overwhelming that our life completely changes. Our attitude changes, our outlook on life changes, our joy changes into a deep desire to be in relationship with God. We truly become disciples of Jesus. We want to know Jesus and all there is about him and the way Jesus wants us to live our lives in this world today. We want to follow Jesus into eternity with him leading the way.
In this way, it's true... "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you."
When we believe in Jesus, we enter into Jesus in our way of life and being. No longer do we consider sin, death, the devil, money, power, prestige and control something to dwell on and focus our lives upon... rather we enter into Jesus, a relationship with Jesus and become full of the Spirit that dwells in Jesus and now dwells in us. Our focus on life has shifted from the temporary to the eternal, from the material to the spiritual, from the end of life to eternal life. This causes all of our desires to change and all of our motives to change and shift from ourselves to God.
It's this change in outlook that Jesus uses to draw us in... we will leave it all to be with Jesus. Who wouldn't? We now see eternal life, eternal love, eternal salvation... yes we see eternity in Jesus. Thanks be to God!
Oh how we long for the Holy Spirit to not only fill our hearts and lives but to fill this place. Here is a song that reflects this plea, this joy, this request to God.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us1I0fw7hKo
Prayer
Lord, as I hear your invitation to "come and see"... to "follow"... to be with you... my life changes. My life changes in an instant. The change isn't due to me... but due to you coming to me... finding me... inviting me... to eternal life in you and with the Holy Spirit... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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