January 4, 2024 MERE MEN
1 Corinthians 3:2-3 “I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking as mere men?”
It’s evident that believers can live contrary to the ways of God; and it’s also clear that believers can live according to the ways of God. There are many scriptures that deal with the flesh; to live according to the flesh is to live according to self and to live according to one’s own dictates and desires. When a believer lives by the flesh, he or she ignores the teaching and instructions of scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Where there is strife, jealousy, contentions, and the like, there are fleshly desires at work. There are other signs of living by the flesh that are more subtle; such as discouragement, depression, hopelessness, and an ungodly thought life. You may be thinking that this blog sure has a negative tone to it; however, there is good news for us to glean. The point is that we do not have to live as mere men who live by the flesh. We are not mere men and women because we have the Holy Spirit living in us-and that makes all the difference; and we are not mere men and women because God has made us new creations with new hearts, new minds and new spirits. Our salvation is so much more than a ticket to heaven; being adopted into God’s family has enormous benefits for us in this life and the life to come. God has made us to be overcomes in life; we no longer have to respond to difficulties and adverse circumstances as the world responds; we no longer have to depend on our own wisdom and our own strength; we no longer have to be discouraged or disheartened with deluge of bad news and all that’s wrong in the world. This does not mean that we bury our heads in the sand pretending there are no difficulties. It does mean that we live with a God like perspective and that we are a part of the solution, being light in the darkness. Let us not slip in to living like mere men and women; let us live daily with the awareness that God is present in us, empowering, equipping and guiding us. When we live in the ways of God, we live a supernatural life even though we live in fleshy bodies.
Romans 8:11 “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit which dwells in you.”
Blessings, Buddy
1 Corinthians 3:2-3 “I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking as mere men?”
It’s evident that believers can live contrary to the ways of God; and it’s also clear that believers can live according to the ways of God. There are many scriptures that deal with the flesh; to live according to the flesh is to live according to self and to live according to one’s own dictates and desires. When a believer lives by the flesh, he or she ignores the teaching and instructions of scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Where there is strife, jealousy, contentions, and the like, there are fleshly desires at work. There are other signs of living by the flesh that are more subtle; such as discouragement, depression, hopelessness, and an ungodly thought life. You may be thinking that this blog sure has a negative tone to it; however, there is good news for us to glean. The point is that we do not have to live as mere men who live by the flesh. We are not mere men and women because we have the Holy Spirit living in us-and that makes all the difference; and we are not mere men and women because God has made us new creations with new hearts, new minds and new spirits. Our salvation is so much more than a ticket to heaven; being adopted into God’s family has enormous benefits for us in this life and the life to come. God has made us to be overcomes in life; we no longer have to respond to difficulties and adverse circumstances as the world responds; we no longer have to depend on our own wisdom and our own strength; we no longer have to be discouraged or disheartened with deluge of bad news and all that’s wrong in the world. This does not mean that we bury our heads in the sand pretending there are no difficulties. It does mean that we live with a God like perspective and that we are a part of the solution, being light in the darkness. Let us not slip in to living like mere men and women; let us live daily with the awareness that God is present in us, empowering, equipping and guiding us. When we live in the ways of God, we live a supernatural life even though we live in fleshy bodies.
Romans 8:11 “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit which dwells in you.”
Blessings, Buddy
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