My last post ended with something I would like to pick up on today. I finished with asking where your identity was. I have been learning about my identity in Christ through Romans 8. I have learned so much about the love, grace, forgiveness and mercy of God through this study.
If you take a look at Romans 8:5-17, it lists the differences between flesh and spirit. Proudly, I am OF the spirit and so are you provided that you are a believer. Read through that and take note of the differences between flesh and spirit. The flesh is death, hostile to God, can't submit to God's law, please Him and doesn't belong to God. The spirit has life, peace, we are children of God, we have no fear, we are a slave to no one and we are glorified with Him (to name a few). Wow, I am so incredibly happy to be a part of the spirit instead of the flesh. But if you think about all the unbelievers around you...they are walking zombies. They will die - they have no hope. Not only do they not want please God, verse 8 says they CAN'T please God. You can't be part of the flesh and part of the spirit at the same time. You are one or the other. If we all had the mind-set that the unbelievers around us were walking zombies who try as they might through good deeds can't please God at all, would we be more motivated as believers to share God's Word with them?
Another important truth I have learned is simply that I am who I am. God made me...fearfully, wonderfully, beautifully in His image, just the way He wants me. No one can ever change my perfectness (is that a word?) for God. My own mistakes cannot make me less beautiful to Him, my husband's, children's, neighbor's, parent's, whoever mistakes...I am God's and He is mine. No person or thing can ever take that away from me (see verses 38-39).
I could continue on and on. Who knew one little chapter in Romans could pour so much truth into us? Could make us realize we are absolutely perfect and wonderful the way we are and no one can ever change that? Could show us that our imperfections as humans are God's thumbprint on our lives? And as verse 28 says...God can take our lowest of lows, our flesh-like mistakes, and use them for the glory of His Kingdom. Remember, realize, and rejoice in WHO you are and WHOSE you are. :)
If you take a look at Romans 8:5-17, it lists the differences between flesh and spirit. Proudly, I am OF the spirit and so are you provided that you are a believer. Read through that and take note of the differences between flesh and spirit. The flesh is death, hostile to God, can't submit to God's law, please Him and doesn't belong to God. The spirit has life, peace, we are children of God, we have no fear, we are a slave to no one and we are glorified with Him (to name a few). Wow, I am so incredibly happy to be a part of the spirit instead of the flesh. But if you think about all the unbelievers around you...they are walking zombies. They will die - they have no hope. Not only do they not want please God, verse 8 says they CAN'T please God. You can't be part of the flesh and part of the spirit at the same time. You are one or the other. If we all had the mind-set that the unbelievers around us were walking zombies who try as they might through good deeds can't please God at all, would we be more motivated as believers to share God's Word with them?
Another important truth I have learned is simply that I am who I am. God made me...fearfully, wonderfully, beautifully in His image, just the way He wants me. No one can ever change my perfectness (is that a word?) for God. My own mistakes cannot make me less beautiful to Him, my husband's, children's, neighbor's, parent's, whoever mistakes...I am God's and He is mine. No person or thing can ever take that away from me (see verses 38-39).
I could continue on and on. Who knew one little chapter in Romans could pour so much truth into us? Could make us realize we are absolutely perfect and wonderful the way we are and no one can ever change that? Could show us that our imperfections as humans are God's thumbprint on our lives? And as verse 28 says...God can take our lowest of lows, our flesh-like mistakes, and use them for the glory of His Kingdom. Remember, realize, and rejoice in WHO you are and WHOSE you are. :)
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