29^th April

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”

Romans 8:12-14

Isn’t it amazing that the God all of creation, sent His Son Jesus Christ to be our substitution for our sins. God knew that we couldn’t reach His level’s of perfection by our own strength, so He sent One that could and now that One, Jesus Christ, continually stands as our mediator. If it just ended there then we have enough of a reason to celebrate God’s grace for eternity. Yet the incredible truth is that it didn’t end there. When Jesus left this earth, the Holy Spirit was given to us to help us continue to live as children of God. It’s like God almost said ‘ok, you are now made right with Me because of My Son, but I want to help you live even better lives, so I am sending the Holy Spirit too!‘

Living ‘better’ lives or lives that please God, isn’t just so He can watch us and say ‘look at my well behaved puppets’. On the contrary, it is so we can be free to live life in all of life’s fullness, it is to protect us from danger and it to live more like His children. Furthermore, living for Jesus, saves us from spiritual death, “for if you live by its (sins) dictates, you will die.”

Living by the Spirit moves us away from living in the regrets and the ‘ifs and buts’ of the past but helps us to look forward. It edges us closer to the fullness of God and life in Him. It is only there that you will experience true joy, freedom and happiness. God sent Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins and the Holy Spirit to lead us into Godly living. They are both a free gift of God.