Living in the Spirit

Today I would like for us to consider a very familiar passage of scripture from a very different point of view.Romans 8:1-8 (CEB)So now there isn’t any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. God has done what was impossible for the Law, since it was weak because of selfishness. God condemned sin in the body by sending his own Son to deal with sin in the same body as humans, who are controlled by sin. He did this so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us. Now the way we live is based on the Spirit, not based on selfishness. People whose lives are based on selfishness think about selfish things, but people whose lives are based on the Spirit think about things that are related to the Spirit. The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace. So the attitude that comes from selfishness is hostile to God. It doesn’t submit to God’s Law, because it can’t. People who are self-centered aren’t able to please God.The Common English Bible presents this very familiar scripture from a very different perspective. At opposite poles are living in the Spirit and selfishness.Consider also another familiar passage from Paul’s letters:Philippians 2:1-5Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus.Paul goes on in this passage to describe how Jesus willingly set aside his heavenly position to give up his life for us. This is the epitome of selflessness.Jesus himself presents these polar opposites in Matthew 25 in describing the sheep and goats on the day of judgment. The goats are condemned because, as the Master says: I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes, and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison, and you did not look after me.The goats were apparently a very selfish lot, looking out for their own needs and ignoring the plights of others.Obviously, there is much more to consider in our spiritual lives than simply selflessness and selfishness. But these scriptures describe how these extremes in behavior are the manifestations of what drives us from within. Is it the same sacrificial mind that was in Christ Jesus, or is it the mind of a selfish goat? Each of us must decide where our focus will be.Prayer:Father God, lead us by your Spirit to watch out for what is better for others. Help us, with humility, to think of others as better than ourselves. Forgive us when we become so self-absorbed that we overlook the needs of others. Amen.This devotion was written and recorded by Charlie Barton.Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.