Romans 8:6–11 (NRSV)
Read Romans 8:6–11 on biblegateway.com
Verse 6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Verse 7For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law-indeed it cannot, Verse 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Verse 9But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
Verse 10But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Verse 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Devotion
The Apostle Paul’s words to the Romans convict us and embolden us to live our lives with Christ. The Spirit loves to come in and change our trajectory for the better.
In my work here at the seminary, I have a lot of discernment conversations with prospective and current students. These conversations often come at a crossroads in their life; a time when their own decision making is not enough. It is often a time when the Spirit enters in and changes course.
It is clear that we cannot be left to our devices—thank goodness! Our faith empowers us to let go of the need to control and let God be God. We are not given a detailed map of the trajectory of our lives, but we are given compassion and care and love that will sustain us and sit with us in moments of uncertainty and doubt. The Spirit loves to cause a little holy chaos—may we welcome it.
Prayer
O God of holy chaos, embolden us with your spirit and grant us peace. Amen.
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