Living in the Spirit

Romans 8:5 says, “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, the things of the Spirit.”

You might ask, 'But my thoughts are often filled with dirty thoughts, anger, sinful thoughts, guilt, excessive worries, and others. How about that?'

When we depend on the Holy Spirit, He helps us change our way of thinking according to His Will. The Holy Spirit changes our lives not just by altering our behavior but by transforming our lives, hearts, and minds.

For example, if you are married, you could obey the moral law: you never hit your wife, you never cheat on her, you provide for her, yet you might never love her at all. However, naturally, if you love her, you would never want to hurt your wife and strive to give her the best. For that love transcends obligations.

Let me ask you: When you fall in love with someone, would you feel obliged to call him/her, bring him/her gifts/ flowers, or spend time with him/her?

Our old way of thinking often centers on 'Don't do this, don't do that, fear of punishment, fear of being cursed, etc.'

Suppose you are offended and angry at someone; you want to retaliate and teach her a lesson. But in your mind, you know revenge is wrong, so you try to find reasons to justify your anger. You would try to fulfill the law by justifying it in your heart that: “This is for their good, this is to admonish, this is for the good of many, etc.” But what's in your heart, only God and you know.

That is such the way when we try to obey the law and religious rules. But if we live in the Spirit, the Spirit of God reminds us that we are Beloved Children of God and God's Love has been poured into us, so whatever we think and do when we are angry is motivated by the Love of God. That is living in the Spirit. And there is no way we can control and force our heart and mind to have that Love with our own strength – that is the old way of the flesh. The only way is by Grace, as the Spirit pours God’s Love into our hearts, enabling us to act naturally according to the Spirit’s Way.

In that Upper Room, Lord Jesus instructed His disciples, '"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another'" (John 13:34).

Technically, the Command to Love was already in the Torah Law – "Love your neighbor as yourself," so why is it new? But think about it: can Love be Commanded? Can sincere Love be forced by law and frightened by punishment?

Love must fundamentally be free will; a Command to Love sounds like an oxymoron. That's why Jesus said this is a "New Commandment," unlike the old oxymorons, because now He first Loved us, and the Holy Spirit poured His Love into our hearts so that we can Love naturally.

This is to live led by the Spirit. As we surrender and depend on Him, the Holy Spirit helps us to think according to His Will. He transforms our hearts and minds so that in our true nature, we will bear the Fruit of the Spirit. This is the Work of the Holy Spirit, not our strength.