Comments on: Dreams & Thoughts http://log.ashishjoy.com/2008/10/dreams-thoughts/ Living Out As It's Meant To Be Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:48:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Matthew Barron http://log.ashishjoy.com/2008/10/dreams-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Matthew Barron Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:27:36 +0000 http://log.ashishjoy.com/?p=66#comment-7 What pops out to me the most in Romans 8, is the passage that speaks about “setting you minds on the Spirit.” This is Christ-mysticism and it is vital to the spiritual health and vivacity of the believer. Chapter 7, Paul speaks of the Law, God’s holy revelation, and how he tries to align with it because he knows how right and good it is. But he is constantly frustrated because he can never seem to conform his behavior with what the Law demands. He desires to please God, yet he is unable to do so because of the limitations of his own body and the inhibitions placed on his mind as he limits his thinking to “the flesh.” Man’s ability and strategies do not suffice and cannot help him live in accordance with the Law, that is God’s revealed nature. “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” John 6.63, Jesus says, “It is the Spirit who gives life; and the flesh profits nothing; the words I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” What do I ponder, contemplate, meditate on, wonder about? Let go of the old ways of thinking, release the fears and worries of yester-year. Abandon yourself to God’s promises, discipline your mind to break from the past and to meditate on Christ’s words. Be transformed. Only then can you participate in the transformation of the world. What pops out to me the most in Romans 8, is the passage that speaks about “setting you minds on the Spirit.” This is Christ-mysticism and it is vital to the spiritual health and vivacity of the believer. Chapter 7, Paul speaks of the Law, God’s holy revelation, and how he tries to align with it because he knows how right and good it is. But he is constantly frustrated because he can never seem to conform his behavior with what the Law demands. He desires to please God, yet he is unable to do so because of the limitations of his own body and the inhibitions placed on his mind as he limits his thinking to “the flesh.” Man’s ability and strategies do not suffice and cannot help him live in accordance with the Law, that is God’s revealed nature. “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”

John 6.63, Jesus says, “It is the Spirit who gives life; and the flesh profits nothing; the words I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

What do I ponder, contemplate, meditate on, wonder about? Let go of the old ways of thinking, release the fears and worries of yester-year. Abandon yourself to God’s promises, discipline your mind to break from the past and to meditate on Christ’s words.

Be transformed.

Only then can you participate in the transformation of the world.

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