Thought for today (January 17): Walking not after the flesh, but after the spirit

In “1st thought for today “The world may be wicked” (January 16)” and “2nd thought for today “Praise Jehovah God Who Creates and Saves” (January 16)” we looked at David and his problems but also mentioned our problems and the problems of this world.

In “What Causes Sin?“, “Human Desire Personified“, “Realities concerning Human Life and Death“, “The challenges from the World” we talked about our way of life and the way of life of the majority of people in this godless world.

We came to talk about how everybody in this world acts in a certain way. Most people acting according to the flesh. Because so many having set their eyes on the flesh, we have to face such a contrived and ugly world, that cannot please us and even less the divine Creator.

“6 For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace: 7 because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be: 8 and they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Ro 8:6-8 ASV)

The last few decades there has been a radical change in the way the world thinks and how people want to react to events. That way of living and handling the events not only influenced non-religious and other religious people. Our community was also affected and affected also our preaching.

The last five years the fake news increased so much, lots of people by social media became more interested in such fake news and in the popular politicians who help to spread such false news and mega church priest spreading false teachings. This makes that there has become less interest in the real truth.

There are many so-called Christians, who say there are saved by Christ, and as such have to do nothing any more. For lots of them it does not matter how the world turns as a square wheel. For they are convinced they are safe, and they do not worry about others. Selfishness has taken over in this world.

We do know that there may be lots of people, who may have accepted Christ as their saviour. Though, lots of them do not really know what such a salvation really means. They have made Jesus in their god because they are convinced it is impossible for a human being to do such an unselfish act. This proofs how they not only want an excuse for themselves, but also how they minimalise the act of Christ.

They should know that it was really a son of man who seriously gave up his own life for the sake of others. Our sins are forgiven us for his sake; but many are not deeply conscious enough that in us (i.e. in our flesh) dwells no good thing from.

“ For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but to do that which is good is not.” (Ro 7:18 ASV)

By choosing to have Jesus as their god, they have also a good excuse, telling no man can really be good or can be without fault, and as such all trials to become faultless has no sense and no use.

We perceive what physical life is when a child comes bounding into our room in a very ecstasy of health and joy. We know what intellectual life is as we see the mind developing under the process of education. We know what the moral life of a stoic is, repelling by force of will the appeal of the senses. But above all these, there is Life which is resident in Jesus Christ, stored in Him, abounding in Him, which He longs to communicate to every soul that trusts in Him. This was the witness of those who knew Jesus most intimately in His brief human life — that

“God hath given unto us Eternal Life, and this Life is in His Son.”

“He that hath the Son hath the Life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not the Life.”

This more than outweighs the down-pull of the self-life. The law of that life makes us free from the law of sin and death, for it has mastered death and the grave. {The Reservoir of Eternal Life.—”the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.”}

We may not forget that this life is communicated and sustained by the Holy Spirit. Created in the image of God, it is up to us to come into a clean image of Him. At the same time Jesus asked his followers to be one with him, like he is one with God. We must be one with Jesus Christ; we must be in him, as the sponge is in the ocean. We must be in him, not only in our standing, but also in our daily walk. Every day, people should be able to see the difference between a real follower of Christ and a fake one.

In the days of so much information this may seem very difficult, but when clean and pure, speaking also in a pure language, spared from any hatred or rivalry, we should show our loving kindness to all the surrounding people, whatsoever language they may speak, whatever religion they may adhere, whatever skin colour they may have, shall show who is the true follower of Christ, sharing the same love as Christ shared with others around him.

We must be in Christ as the branch is in the vine, and the vine-sap in the branch. And this must not only be a theory, but an hourly experience. We must abide in him and he in us.

“21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if to live in the flesh,— if this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not. 23 But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better: 24 yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith; 26 that your glorying may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.” (Php 1:21-26 ASV)

In this world we may not be carried away by the many who live according to the flesh. We have to strengthen [Arm] ourselves so that we will live here on earth [L the rest of the time in the flesh] doing what God wants [the will of God], not the evil things people want [or not pursuing your own human desires].

Lots of people may pursue their own ideas and lusts. When we make plans as the world does [or using only human standards/reason; L according to the flesh], so that we say yes, yes and at the same time no, no, then who is going to tell we are different from non-religious people?
Are you giving an opportunity to have others pointing at you for your talk and your behaviour?
Are you saying “yes” and “no” in the same breath?
Or are you attacking other Christians, just because they do not belong to your church or to your denomination? Do you not see they can be part of the branches of the Body of Christ?
Who are you that you think to have the right to condemn them?

As a result of a revelation, you, like Saul, should become an apostle. Saul too went up, fought against followers of Christ, who he thought to be wrong. It took a higher action, coming from above, so that Saul’s eyes after blindness became opened, in as far that he could go into the world, to present to loads of people, the Good News that he proclaimed among the Gentiles. But he did so privately to those who seemed to be influential, to make sure he would not run — or had not run — in vain.

“ that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Ro 8:4 ASV)

“ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh” (2Co 10:3 ASV)

“ When I therefore was thus minded, did I show fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay?” (2Co 1:17 ASV)

“ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.” (Ga 2:20 ASV)

“ that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” (1Pe 4:2 ASV)

But how can this become our daily experience?
There is but one way.
Through the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, as we walk in Him (Gal 5:16).

“ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Ga 5:16 ASV)

He is the essence of the Life which is in Christ Jesus.

“The Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

°°°

Let us pray.

Almighty God,
I beseech Thee to raise me from the death of sin to the life of righteousness
by that same power that brought the Lord Jesus from the dead,
that I may walk in newness of life through the aid of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Preceding

Today’s thought by the French elections and right-wing populism in the world

What Causes Sin?

Bible readings to Reconciled and reconciliation terms very familiar to accountants

The 1st Adam in the Hebrew Scriptures #8 Looking for the 2nd Adam

Chaff and the shoot out of the stock of Jesse

The God of hope filling us with all joy and peace

Hope that those who take Jesus as their god shall come to accept and subject to him

Memorizing wonderfully 58 Justified by faith through him we have our access in one Spirit unto the Father

Memorizing wonderfully 67: Galatians 3:29 Heirs according to promise.