Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Romans 8:14-17

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

 Reflection

The great Christian reformer and theologian, Martin Luther, uses these great verses as evidence for what he calls the, “paradox of freedom.” You see through our adoption as God’s children, we are set free but at the same time we are bound to God’s work in the world through Jesus Christ. This means that in response to our freedom we become servants of Christ in the world. This is an interesting thought that we are free yet freed to be servants. How have you seen this paradox play out in your walk of faith?

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Romans 8:1-5

¹Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin

offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 

Reflection

Our scripture today shows us the great work of God in

Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit continues to remind us (bear witness) to the fact that God loved us so much to cancel our debt and this reminder should shape how we live. The scripture here calls this ‘living in the Spirit’ what does that mean to you?

Monday, January 12, 2015

John 1:9-13

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Reflection

This week we are talking about how the Holy Spirit bears witness that we are the children of God. The majority of the gospel of John lays on this concept that through our faith in the work of God in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we have become children of God. What does it mean to you to be a child of God? How does this effect the way you live your life?

Weekly Theme January 11 through 17

Bears Witness

 “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” 

 -Romans 8:15-16

The Holy Spirit witnesses to the fact that through our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection that we have been saved and that we are children of God, a part of God’s family. The witness of the Holy Spirit can and should give us great confidence because the Spirit witnesses to the truth of our salvation.  The Holy Spirit bears witness to our hearts, minds, and souls that our relationship with Jesus is real, that we are accepted and sealed in that relationship, and there is

nothing that anyone can do to steal that away from us.

Because of the witness of the Holy Spirit to our salvation, we can live confidently and with joy.  We don’t have to hope our faith is true.  We don’t have to deal with nagging doubts or wonder if the arguments of those who don’t believe are the real truth.  We can be sure of all that God has given us in Jesus Christ because the Holy Spirit, through the power of the Father has witnessed that Jesus is truth and all who believe in him will be saved.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Saturday

Pray for the church.

Friday, January 9, 2015

Friday

Pray  for your family.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Thursday

Pray for those who are hurting.