Category: Romans

Romans 8:12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.  

I am a hot mess. But I have an obligation to try to live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. Some days I do a great job of living by the Spirit. Some days I fail terribly.

Romans 8:13a For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;

But to know that I am still a deeply loved child of God even when I mess up, to know that the Spirit is still in me, even when I don’t live up to the guidance of the Spirit, that knowledge is priceless.

Romans 8:13b …but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your love, Your compassion, Your mercy. Thank You for the knowledge that You love me fiercely, even when I mess up. Help me to love others as You love me. Help me to draw closer to You with each breath. Amen.

Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:9a You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.  

The holidays can be difficult when you lose someone who is dear to you. But we do not grieve as those without hope. However, today’s scripture reminds us that not only does the Spirit give us hope after death, but also it gives us hope in life.

Romans 8:9b …And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

On my own, I am a mess. I am fleshly and human. I make selfish choices. But today’s scripture reminds me the Spirit “will also give life to your mortal [body].” *I* am fleshly and human, but “the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is living in” me, and that Spirit is powerful and present.

Romans 8:10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 

Precious Savior, It is hard to fathom that You can use a hot mess like me. It is hard to comprehend that the same Spirit that gives me hope when I grieve is present IN me, giving me hope as I fumble through this life. Help me to cling to Your Spirit, Your hope, always. Amen.

Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:5 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.  

A hedonist is someone who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life. It is someone who lives exclusively for the desires of the flesh. They are seeking pleasure for themselves, not for others. They don’t care much about others.

Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

The Spirit desires us to live for others–how we can help them, how we can love them, how we can lift them up. I don’t think the Spirit desires us to lift others at our own expense, but I think the focus is outward, on shining God’s light for all.

Romans 8:7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 

Precious Savior, The world tells us to put ourselves first, make ourselves happy, even at the expense of others. You tell us that that is not the way to live, to love. I truly believe that life is about balance. I have to take care of myself, but I should uplift and help others as well. Help me to do all these things through You, with You, and in You. Amen.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,  

I feel like Romans 8:1 should be tattooed in a prominent place so that every believer can see it before speaking. Christians can be some of the most judgmental, condemning people I know. Unfortunately, I am guilty of judging and condemning others, too.

Romans 8:2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

I strive to live according to a billboard I saw years ago: “Just love everybody. I’ll sort them out later. ~God.” That sentiment, I think, is much closer to this section of Romans. We are charged with loving others, not judging them. Jesus help us.

Romans 8:3 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, 

Precious Savior, You call us to love one another. You promise us no condemnation for those who are in You. Help us to live up to Your standards, to love and support each other, lifting each other up, not tearing each other down. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Romans 8:4 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.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 

This time of year is difficult for me for a host of reasons, but right now I feel like I am becoming someone I don’t want to be, someone I would not want to spend time around. My temper is short, my patience is gone, I grumble and complain A LOT.

Romans 7:18b …For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 

It seems the epitome of “…what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do,” and while a bad attitude isn’t necessarily “evil,” it certainly isn’t a good thing. It certainly isn’t something I want to continue. Jesus, Help me. Please.

Romans 7:19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 

Lord, I don’t understand my own behavior and I certainly don’t like it. Help me get a grip on this constant negativity, to embrace the joy that comes from being Your deeply loved child. Help me to give grace to myself and to others who are struggling, no matter the reason. I want to be a light for You, Lord. Please, Help me. Amen.

Romans 7:20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 15:13a May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace… 

I’m struggling with the fact that people whom I love and care about are struggling. I want to help, want to fix it, and I can’t, which makes me frustrated, makes me feel helpless. But God says He will never leave me nor forsake me, so I know He’s with me now, too.

Romans 15:13b …as you trust in him… 

Romans 15:13 reminds me that joy and peace come from the God of hope. The goal is not the *I* can fix it, not the *He* can fix it according to my idea of what it *should* be. The goal is to remember that God is sovereign and in control, and no matter what this mess looks like from my angle, God’s got it. He’s already made a way. He is victorious, and we are victorious through Him. Trusting in Him (and you know how I struggle with trust) means trusting that even though I can see no way of the situation being ok, God’s got it. That trust in Him, in His power and love, sovereignty and compassion, will allow me to overflow with His hope.

Romans 15:13c …so that you may overflow with hope… 

Precious Savior, I want to overflow with Your hope. I want to be surrounded by Your joy and peace. The only way to do that is to surrender to You, to trust–fully trust–in You. I do, Lord. I trust You. But I feel like I should be *doing* as well as trusting. And that way leads to misery, I know. Help me to trust in You. Help those I love and care about who are struggling to trust in You, too. Help us, Lord. Please. Amen.

Romans 15:13d …by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Have a blessed day.