Read: Romans 8:9-25
Think: In Romans 8, Paul mentions the Holy Spirit 19 times! In today’s verses, Paul gives the reader a list of invaluable benefits or key reasons for being filled—or controlled—with the Holy Spirit beginning with Romans 8:11, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same spirit living within you. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.” C.S. Lewis’ fictional tale, Screwtape Letters, brings this verse to life through its characters—an uncle who is a demon and his nephew who is a demon-in-training. Their goal is to do everything possible to entice their “assigned” human being to engage in sin! Paul is warning, begging, convincing, assuring, and describing to the readers (then and now) how the Holy Spirit is key to overcoming our sinful natures and living a victorious Christian life on earth.
Act: Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit is the holy person of God who is given explicitly to help the believer navigate his or her life on earth. After reading Romans 8:9-25 a second time, make a detailed list describing these benefits. Then personalize this list; make it specific to your life. Include a time (or times) when the Holy Spirit helped you to (1) overcome sin, (2) identify with Jesus, and (3) understand, more deeply, that you are a child of God.
Pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for reminding me how important Your Holy Spirit is to living my life on earth. Fill me up to overflowing with an immediate outpouring of Your Holy Spirit today. Call me to come to You. Daily guide me. Help me not to resist You. Give me more and more of Your Holy Spirit. I love You, Lord. I need You. Amen.
Be full of faith today!
