Romans 8:7-8

Passage

Because of this, the way of thinking of the flesh is at enmity with God.  For it is not being submitted to the Law of God – nor is it even powerful enough to do so.  For the ones who are in the flesh are not powerful enough to please God.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Enmity with God is not exactly a pleasant description of relationship.  Enmity is defined as “the state of being actively opposed to something.”  Paul continues to stop pulling punches.  If you are in the flesh, you are in a state of active opposition to God.  That makes things fairly plain and clear, doesn’t it?  I can’t help but wonder how many of us are still at enmity with God.  I can’t help but wonder how many of us try to whitewash this point.

Are you in the flesh?  Do you still think using the ways of the flesh?  How does it make you feel when you think about others in the world living at enmity with God?

Second Thought:

The source of the enmity is also clear.  It is because the flesh refuses to submit to God.  Our enmity is inherently tied to our lack of submission.  We do not want what God wants for us.  Paul tells us that it is not even possible for us to want it.  We’re just not powerful enough.  The only way we can ever want the higher things that God wants for us is to submit to Him and let the Spirit lead us.  It really all is about submission as our first step.

How easy is it for you to submit to God?  What is the advantage of submission?  What makes it so difficult?

Third Thought:

Paul continues to spell things out rather clearly.  Those in the flesh are not powerful enough to please God, either.  When we try and do things based off of our own power and our own authority and our own understanding we just cannot do it.  The only way to please God is to realize that our authority – and therefore our power – comes from Him.  When we act out of our submission to Him, we are empowered by Him and can please Him.

Where do you please God?  Where do you live out of His power?  Where do you understand your authority comes from Him?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 8:9-11