Romans 8:12

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh to live according to it ~ Romans 8:12


Did you catch that word in this verse – OBLIGATION. It is an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment. And it is not an obligation to follow the flesh! We are not committed to following the world, though the world is beginning to make more inroads into our life as Christians, and as a result, we tend to be more committed than we should be to the world. To follow the ways of Jesus calls us to a radical commitment to all this is not of the world, but that is of God. We look too much to our bank account, or our life of leisure. I think of the Apostle Paul’s words where to follow Christ means that we think of “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). We owe our very lives to Jesus Christ! He died on the cross to save you and me from our sins, from our big black dot we placed upon this earth, and we are now free in Him. Our full obligation is to Jesus Christ, our Saviour, who loved us though we were unlovely and unloved because of our sin. We have no way to repay Jesus for the sacrifice he made upon that cross of shame and pain. Our love and devotion, our fullest commitment to him is what we can do. Our obligation is to follow him to wherever and whatever he calls us to do and be. Our strength comes from the Lord, not from the world, not from our finances, not from the roof over our head, but from the power of the cross through Jesus Christ!

Pastor Julia

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