Scripture to Read: Romans 8:5–8
Sometimes, God lovingly confronts us in a way that may seem harsh at first but then brings us comfort, knowing He is not giving up on us in our journey with Him. Today is one of those moments, as God tells us in Romans 8:7–8, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. We saw in yesterday’s devotion that the mind set on the flesh is death. Well, though we know sin results in death, God tells us today that the mind set on the flesh is “hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God.” If we are not submitted to God and His Word, then we are submitted to the god of this world, Satan, and the spiritual forces of wickedness. But God also reveals that a lost person cannot submit to God and His Word. Remember in the devotion on Day 2, we discussed that as God led Paul to write, His Truth could apply to both saved and lost people. Today, God reminds us that lost people cannot submit to Him because they are held captive by the god of this world (2 Timothy 2:26). But if we’re not submitted to God and His Word, we are choosing to become hostile toward Him, we break our fellowship with Him, and we do not please Him, and that’s not where God wants us.
Challenge & Application
What did God teach you today about the mind that is set on the flesh?
What comes as a result of our fellowship with God when we set our minds on fleshly stuff, and what must we do to correct this?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!