Romans 8:9–17 ‘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.’ (v10)
There are two ways of looking at life. One is through the lens of our mood and the practicalities that make up our day. Rooted in our immediate reality, this approach will keep our minds focused on our earthly existence. However, we can choose to view life through the lens of God’s Spirit.
Here we follow Paul’s instruction, setting our minds on things above, rather than on earthly thoughts (Col. 3:1–4). This approach is all too easily dismissed as being impractical, and is often described as becoming too heavenly minded to be of any earthly use. Yet, Scripture suggests there is not much that is earthly that is essentially of any practical use unless and until it is taken hold of by God’s Spirit.
Our mortal life is firmly and finally fixed between two points, birth and death. Both are realities we have no control over. Yet, when we perceive our life through the lens of God’s Spirit, we see everything set against the backdrop of eternity. The only things that endure beyond mortality are those things that serve the purpose of God.
So our decisions are either to serve our mortal cravings, or to manage them skilfully so as to take hold of our eternal destiny. We each face many battles throughout our earthly life as we attempt to live ‘in the realm of the Spirit’. However, God identifies this as our primary calling and work on earth.
Scripture to consider: Ezek. 2:1–8; Rom. 8:18–39; Gal. 5:13–26; Eph. 4:17–32.
An action to take: How easy do you find it to approach life through the lens of God’s Spirit? What are the challenges the world places before you and with which you struggle?
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, I want to live with my eyes gazing through the lens of Your Spirit. Amen.’
Photo by li shanting on Unsplash
