How can one tell if one is living by the flesh or by the Spirit? By the Spirit itself! The Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) lives in us when we are of the Spirit. To those who are of the Spirit, we have life, even though our mortal bodies will one day die. The Spirit gives our poor mortal bodies victory over sin and death. But that gives us an obligation! Because the Spirit gives us life, and the flesh brings death, our obligation is not to the flesh. It is not to pursue our sinful desires. Our obligation is to the Spirit, to live according to it. By the Spirit our sinful natures are put to death. We cannot live in sin any longer!

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. What does that mean? It means we are not slaves to fear, for we have overcome the world (1 Jn 5:4). Instead, the Spirit of God gives us a spirit of sonship. Through the Spirit, we have become sons and daughters of God, and we have the right to call God "Abba, Father!" That makes us heirs of God and co-heirs of Christ. That means we will share in Christ's glory and share in his suffering.


Application: Father, we cry out to you, Abba, Father! We have become your children through the Spirit of God. My sinful self has been put to death and I live for you.
One Word: The Spirit of God lives in us