I kind of thought I'd be a lot more... spiritual? better? a month in to this. Maybe more holy at least. Alas no, just more me. And God more God. So there's that I suppose. But being more of what we were is a bit of a let down when I might have been hoping that I'd become more of what I am not usually.
Although now that I say that, I did start out saying that Lent would involved an emotional diet, a practice of letting some things go. So actually, being more of anything would have been moving in the wrong direction.
It's quite amazing how easily my mind can make me a winner, even in the face of losing. Potentially. I amaze me, truly.
What about these words though: "If by the Spirit, you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live (...). For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption." (Roman 8: 13 & 15)
I am thinking so much about how by the Spirit, the misdeeds of the body, of the sinful nature, die. And how I might give some thought to whether or not I believe that God's spirit would ever make me a slave to fear. Certainly, I feel a slave to fear often but it's probably super-smart to remember that isn't delivered by God. God's spirit leaves you feeling like one of the family.
I like that a lot.
(PS: My NIV and the NIV I find online are not the same and sometimes that's a drag.)
Romans 8:12-27
New International Version (NIV)
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Present Suffering and Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[c] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
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