Romans 8.5-6
5 For those who live according to the flesh
set their minds on the things of the flesh,
but those who live according to the Spirit
set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death,
but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
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Though my old self along with my original sinful nature has been crucified (Romans 6.6), I am still, for the time being, living in a body of death (Romans 7.24), and sin often dies slowly, which is quite frustrating. I imagine a home that had tenants that neglected and that had destroyed the property. The tenants were evicted by the landlord, and the landlord himself now moves in and gets to work on the house. It is not immediate perfection, but he begins work on the plumbing and the foundation, and then the electrical; all the broken pieces of the previous tenant’s neglect. It’s a labor of love, and it is an ongoing and progressive work.
So it is with me. I have ransacked my body and have taught myself to love sin and pursue selfishness. But then, one day, the old me was evicted, and my life was bought by a new Landlord, purchased with the blood of Christ, and this Landlord would actually move into the home of my heart and begin His labor of love (Galatians 2.20).
I am truly owned and inhabited by the Holy Spirit, filled in Christ (Colossians 2.6-10), and the old me has no rule or right to my life or body, and I owe the old me absolutely nothing. However, the old me has left his mark, and the Spirit is now lovingly crucifying that leftover flesh that continues to nag, and He will complete the work that was started until it comes to full glorification (Philippians 1.6).
There’s a difference between
reigning sin and surviving sin.
It’s one thing for sin to be living in us,
it’s another thing to be living in sin.
-John Murray
It can be discouraging to see sin that keeps popping up. But I must know the difference between reigning sin and surviving sin. Every believer has surviving sin, but I can be encouraged to know that the Spirit is at work, and He will work until this restoration is complete.
Where do I see areas of “this house” where I can thank the Holy Spirit for having done some renovating? And where do I see need for more renovation and renewal? I thank God that it is He who is working in me and is more committed to this renewal project than even I am!
Read Again Out Loud and Make it into a Prayer:
Romans 8.5-6
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Personalize and Read or Pray Aloud:
Psalm 51.9–17
9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
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Pray Aloud:
O God, You know my weakness.
I am poor and destitute.
I cannot do or think anything good without You.
Help and strengthen me with Your grace,
That I may resolve not only to avoid the evil You forbid,
But also to do the good You command. Amen.
–The Irish Handbook of the Holy League, Dublin, 1890
Father, be glorified in __________ ,
let Your Kingdom and will be done,
in and through __________ as it is in Heaven.
Give _________ daily bread,
and thank You for Your forgiveness.
Help me to forgive others,
as I know that You have forgiven me.
Keep __________ eyes fixed on You and Your Word
so that _______ may not sin against You.
Thank You for Your sovereign love.
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