Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Romans 8-10
Romans 8:5
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
We know what the things of the flesh are, we are far too familiar with these. But what are the things of the Spirit? A good start in understanding this is to take notice of that which Paul, who wrote Romans, said about the “fruit of the Spirit.” No doubt the fruit of the flesh are the things of the flesh, so it follows that the fruit of the Spirit are the things of the Spirit.
They are outlined by Paul in a letter he wrote to the churches in Galatia. In Galatians 5:22-23. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Nine things of the Spirit are listed that those who are “after the Spirit” will manifest in their lives. Being “after” is likened to being under the influence of. Most children “take after” their parents in certain ways. Their overall outlook on life, physical appearance, priorities, etc. are influenced to some extent by their parents. Likewise, those who are “after the Spirit.” Notice these nine fruits of the Spirit that can, and should, be in every child of God’s life.
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Longsuffering
5. Gentleness
6. Goodness
7. Faith
8. Meekness
9. Temperance
In the same portion of Galatians 5 Paul also lists things that are in the lives of those who are “after the flesh”. There are eighteen of these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings; and such like.
By just looking over these two lists a great difference can be seen. According to Paul, each person is “after” either the flesh, or the Spirit. Each person has the nine or the eighteen. It just depends on that which they are taking after.
There is an old saying, “When all of life is past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance will last into eternity. True faith will not be needed then, but the rewards of faith will be extended then. Which of these lists would a person rather meet God with the list of the fruits of the Spirit, or the list of the fruits of the flesh? Probably for those reading a devotion like this, the Spirit list, right. But how? By being “after” the Spirit. Paul already alluded to this in Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Yielding to Him is to “take after” Him.
Dr. William T. Howe
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