Daily Devotion - August 3, 2023

Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit… To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God….You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit. (Rom. 8:5-9)

The Bible makes it clear that only by the grace of God can we become holy. And only by the blood of Jesus Christ, are we washed white as snow – freed of sin’s ugly stain and guilt. That is good news!

But there’s more. God’s Spirit then creates in us righteous desires, setting our minds on the things that please God and unsettling our hearts about anything that does not. 

We are not ultimately called to do what we do not desire, but to do what our Spirit-renewed affections actually desire. God does not merely tell us what to do, he changes our want to. We want to do as he desires. 

Once our minds were only hostile to God, but when they were captivated by the sacrificial love of Jesus for us, we began to love pleasing and honoring him. In fact, we now find our greatest fulfillment and peace in loving what and whom he loves.  

This change of affections is not complete when we are saved, but it is progressive as we more and more perceive the grace of Christ toward us that increases our love for him. 

Once I believed the job of the preacher was to get people to do what they don’t want to do – that’s a horrible job! I no longer believe that. I believe it is my job to help God’s people love Jesus more and more, so that his will is their desire. That’s a great job!

Prayer: Father, help me continue to yield my heart to your Holy Spirit so that my affections are transformed and pleasing you is what provides my greatest joy.