September 9: Under no obligation

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “ Abba! Father. The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.   (Romans 8:12-17 — New American Standard Bible)

This passage states that we are under no obligation to the flesh… but most people express the exact opposite. They feel that they cannot stop doing certain things, that their flesh is too strong. Feelings and habits prove to be too much for most people to handle. The reason is that many do not realize that our flesh is linked to our heart, whereas our spirit is linked to our mind. Unspiritual people live by their feelings and emotions, and spiritual people use reason. When we view our feelings and emotions as our weak side, as something that needs to be questioned rather than the core of who we are, we are then able to understand that we really are under no obligation to the flesh. We don’t have to give in to feelings.

It’s interesting that the Bible repeatedly says the same thing about our flesh: it has to die. There is no reforming it, repairing it, changing it. It has to die. Two different buyers cannot buy the same house, nor can two different lessees rented out the same apartment, and neither can our flesh and our spirit be in control of our life. One has to die for the other to live.

There are two options for us in this life: either we are slaves to fear, or we are children of God that cry out “Abba Father”. Though people who say no to God and to faith believe that they are free, in truth they are slaves to fear. They’re afraid of death, afraid of the future, afraid of growing old… and on and on. But when we humble ourselves to God and His Spirit, we have the boldness and authority to speak to the Father in an intimate way — the way only a real son or daughter could. We have the boldness to believe that we are heirs of God, and to His promises.

Die to your flesh if you haven’t already. Then seek God’s Spirit and accept your rightful place as an heir of the Father.