July 29, 2015
The Way to Choose Life
Psalm 119:93
I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.
That scripture makes me think of this passage from Romans 8...
Romans 8:1-7
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. 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. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
The reason Psalm 119 and Romans 8 go together is because the New Testament Believer can’t ignore God’s commandments now since it is God’s grace that saves us. Romans 8 explains beautifully how we are saved, and it is definitely NOT by how well we keep commandments (see Ephesians 2:8). But then Romans 8 goes on to explain that since Believers have the Holy Spirit, then we are able to think about things that please God. AND letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
So thinking on God’s commandments (Psalm 119:11) is a good thing. God’s commandments reveal how God thinks about things like real truth, real justice, real love and real peace. I don’t ignore them because God gave me grace. I let HIS thoughts dominate my heart and mind which leads to life and not destruction -- because a Believer can certainly also choose to go back to their old way of thinking. And that old way of thinking leads to death.
Dear God,
I love how scripture compliments scripture and how New Testament passages expand on Old Testament passage. I love how you also are able to weave your Word all throughout my heart each day giving me things to think about so I don’t have to let my sinful nature dominate my thoughts. I love that you give me a choice. And I choose YOU! I love you so much. You are great and greatly to be praised and I just can thank you enough. And I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
The Way to Choose Life
Psalm 119:93
I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.
That scripture makes me think of this passage from Romans 8...
Romans 8:1-7
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. 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. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
The reason Psalm 119 and Romans 8 go together is because the New Testament Believer can’t ignore God’s commandments now since it is God’s grace that saves us. Romans 8 explains beautifully how we are saved, and it is definitely NOT by how well we keep commandments (see Ephesians 2:8). But then Romans 8 goes on to explain that since Believers have the Holy Spirit, then we are able to think about things that please God. AND letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
So thinking on God’s commandments (Psalm 119:11) is a good thing. God’s commandments reveal how God thinks about things like real truth, real justice, real love and real peace. I don’t ignore them because God gave me grace. I let HIS thoughts dominate my heart and mind which leads to life and not destruction -- because a Believer can certainly also choose to go back to their old way of thinking. And that old way of thinking leads to death.
Dear God,
I love how scripture compliments scripture and how New Testament passages expand on Old Testament passage. I love how you also are able to weave your Word all throughout my heart each day giving me things to think about so I don’t have to let my sinful nature dominate my thoughts. I love that you give me a choice. And I choose YOU! I love you so much. You are great and greatly to be praised and I just can thank you enough. And I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
RSS Feed