Thursday, July 21

"So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.  For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.  But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." (Romans‬ ‭7:4-6‬)

In Romans 6 and 7, Paul explores the implications of dying to sin and becoming made alive in Christ.  Once, he explains, we were slaves to sin, unable to live righteously because of the sinful nature that dominated us.  Through the mercy and grace of Christ -- that free gift that brings us life -- God has granted us freedom.  In view of His abundant mercy, our response leads us to become slaves to righteousness, committed to living out God's purposes for our lives.

Here, in 7:4, Paul writes that we have come to belong to Christ so that "we might bear fruit for God."  We have become free from the chains of sin and now may "serve in the new way of the Spirit."  Our freedom has come at a great price -- the blood of Christ -- and we rejoice and gratefully commit ourselves to magnifying the glory of the One Who has given us life.

What does it mean to "serve in the new way of the Spirit"?  Why is this way "new"?  Paul indicates that the "old" way represented life under the "written code," the law of Moses.  The Scriptures point out that, even if we do not know the law of Moses, the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19) and that those without the law recognize some moral standards (Romans 1-3).  Living under any such law leads to frustration and entrapment because of our constant tendency towards breaking the law.  Only a casual glance at our world reveals the plague of selfishness and its typical effects.

Simply, the Spirit regenerates and transforms our hearts, minds, and wills so that we have the capacity to "serve in the new way of the Spirit."  Only by God's grace may we go beyond our natural resources, which, as Paul has argued, are inherently flawed.  After receiving Christ as Savior, the renewing of our minds and hearts plays out over our entire remaining lives, but the Spirit's work remains incomplete before our passing into His presence after our deaths or Christ's triumphant return.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus highlighted that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.  The filling of the Holy Spirit and our hungering and thirsting for righteousness promote a virtuous cycle of blessing and wholeness that brings glory to God and joy to our hearts.

May we seek Him wholeheartedly and rejoice in the freedom to give Him everything.

Lord Jesus, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit so that we might hear Your voice and respond to it by faith.  Thank You that You have provided everything we need for life and godliness and that we are now free to serve You.  Give us grace through the Spirit to discern Your plan for today and to honor You moment by moment.  We confess that we are often more satisfied with the world's false than with Your true purpose.  Change us from the inside out and spur this hunger and thirst for righteousness that brings You glory and makes our joy complete.  In Your precious Name, amen.