New Life is Spirit Led – Robert Schaetzle
“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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5 RSV)
My faith in Christ has taught me, growing and learning to live ‘in Jesus’ is the result of how willing I am to let go of my ‘self’ in order to obtain and share the fragrance of Christ’s preeminent Spirit dwelling within me.
Consider the word FLESH in the verse above. One pastor used the following illustration. “Take the word FLESH and remove the letter H, (which we’ll determine stands for heaven). Now reverse the letters remaining, and you spell the word SELF.” So it is; if we live according to the flesh, God in Heaven will appear absent in our lives and we’ll always put self first.
Letting go of self-life is the great challenge we face in our pursuit of holiness. We gain confidence and strength to live holy by laying up the truth of God’s word in our heart and holding onto His promises. “To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6 RSV)
Witnessing all the hostility, despair, anxiety, and unrest in the world around me, I’m ever so thankful I have the power of God’s presence to rest upon in order to find what I’m seeking. “Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3 RSV)
Life is God’s inspired Word. Transformation takes place from ‘self’ the more we rely upon God’s promises and find our hope in things not yet seen. (Romans 8:24-25 NRSV)
Father, thank you for your promises that allow us to live today in the abiding preeminence of hope for things not yet seen in Eternity.
Robert lives in Sunnyvale, CA serving in a Sharing and Caring Ministry. Contact