What needs to change?

Scripture:

2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:2-8

Devotional:

Coming off Easter Weekend, I feel like most people are still on that “Jesus High” feeling. If you don’t know what the “Jesus High” is, let me explain. Some, if not most, kids grow up going to church camp. At these camps, students will feel this tug from the Lord to lay down some hurt from a friendship, maybe break up with their girlfriend/boyfriend, lay down pain they’re dealing with at home, or ultimately give their life to Christ. These camps are full of worship, deep conversations, and powerful speakers. Some may even build new friendships with people who might live hours away, but these bonds are strong. Your zeal for the Lord is unexplainable. This is the “Jesus High”.

Growing up, my brother and I tried to attend every church camp we could. We both loved meeting new friends and playing these games that seemed life-threatening (as a 7th grader might say). But our favorite was listening to these powerful messages and worship leaders jumping across the stage, worshiping our Savior. Seeing students of all ages fill the front altar, proclaiming the name of Jesus and giving their lives to him. Typically, on the last night of the camp, it’s the most emotional. You’ve laid down your life to Christ fully, you’ve cried every tear you possibly could, you've asked God to forgive you for anything you’ve ever done, then you wake up the next morning and go home. So you think to yourself, “What needs to change?” 

As an adult, holidays like Easter give me that “Jesus High”. Going through a whole weekend filled with worship, focusing on the pain and suffering that Jesus endured for us, then your excitement that you have come Sunday morning knowing that our king who died on the cross is ALIVE and WELL, seated on the throne next to his Father in Heaven. Then Monday comes, after the “camp” is over, and you go back to your normal life: work, parenting, school, or whatever it may be. Then you think to yourself, “What needs to change?” 

That leads me to the passage of scripture in Romans 8:2-8, which says: 

2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Verse 2 straight off points out how Jesus SET YOU FREE because of his death on the cross. Then, a few verses down, verse 6 says that when we set our minds to things of the flesh, we are leading ourselves to death. Take a moment here and think of an area/s in your life where you are choosing “your own way” and not choosing the path God has chosen for you. We make decisions all the time and have to think to ourselves, " Am I choosing this because it’ll be better for me and what I think, or am I choosing it because God is going to bless me in this decision down the road. There are times in our lives when we could really use a “Jesus High” moment, like at camp, church on a Sunday morning, or maybe in your small group. But did you know, you can create that type of “feeling” every day when it’s just you alone? When we take time to read the word, pray, and sit in the presence of his spirit, we can create those moments daily. So now, ask yourself this question: What needs to change in your life right now so you can have that closeness with Jesus that you might have on Sunday?

Response:

Apply it to your life: