Passage of the Day:
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.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] 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. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God, Romans 8:14-21.
Reflection:
After devoting an entire chapter to his own losing battle with the sinful nature, the apostle Paul follows this up with a call to action in Romans 8. If you’re not careful, sometimes you’ll find yourself playing the What If Game. If this didn’t happen or if that didn’t happen to me, I’d be so much happier and successful. Instead, Paul provides one area of focus to move on, listen and obey the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25. Stop allowing yourself to be held in bondage by the Devil with a decaying soul. Confess the error(s) of your way, forgive and move on into the freedom of being a child of God.
Prayerful Action:
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known, 1 Corinthians 13:11-12.
Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:
Death, loss and tragedies can be hard to move on from, especially if you feel like you could have said or done something to stop this from happening. When I was a youth pastor in Indiana, one of the teenagers who attended this church died in a car crash. While there may have been alcohol involved in this accident, death is permanent. While everyone typically takes a different amount of time to recover from a shocking event like this, sooner or later you’ll have to move on. The apostle Paul urged one first century congregation to lean on the strength of Jesus when you have nothing left to give, Philippians 4:13. Trust in the power of Christ to help you move on by looking forward to the plan and work God has for you to do on earth, Philippians 1:6.
The attached song helped me two years ago when I moved to South Carolina. While I still haven’t fully adjusted, finding my place in this state, I’m ready to move on when the Spirit prompts me for my future career.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 