Life in the Spirit

So many times I come across people in church, school, or just an ordinary day who claim that they are christians. Many of us have been to church, heard the gospel, and know what Christ did for our sins, and all of that. I think about this often, who and who wont go to heaven. Not to sound cynical or doubt people, but because I don't want that for people. When I read this passage it kind of opened my eyes a bit more...

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."
Romans 8:5-6

What have you been spending your time doing, thinking about, even living? The difference in living in the flesh and Spirit are very different. The flesh is human desires, sin, things that can leave you hurt, with regret, in jail, with diseases, or just unhappy. Adultery, stealing, lying, getting drunk, and well... you get it. All of this is a lie satan wants you to believe is fun, right, and normal. The Bible, the word of God, states very clearly many times that these are sins and are are not on the path of living a righteousness life in Him. We can't just pick and choose what we want to believe, or postpone having a relationship with Christ. This is the truth, God's word, and why don't people choose to listen to it? When people aren't living in the Spirit they become angry with hearing the Bible or anything related to the truth. It worries me so much because so many people that I care about, or even people I don't know don't understand this. God wants to know you and wants the best for you, you just have to come to him. No matter what you've done he's always going to be the only one completely there for you, and will always forgive you. I'm just as guilty as anybody else, because I'm human, but as I see this, I also would like others to see it as well.

"For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law- indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
Romans 8:7-8

"Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness."
Romans 8:9-10

All You Need is Love

In the past couple of weeks I have really tried to study love; the meaning, the actions, the desires, and the sacrifices. All around me I hear others saying how much they love their boyfriends, girlfriends, friends, celebrities, music, clothes, cars, and the list goes on. The more I venture out and talk to people the less I seem to hear of peoples love for God, or things God loves. I feel like we forming our understanding of love by listening to lyrics, movies, books, and the commercial ideas. God is the ultimate source of love, because he created it. Everything he does is done in love... when he sent his son, when he watches over us, when he hears our prayers, everything. With friends, significant others, family, or anyone else you should always love them. No matter what obstacles they have put you through, what their faults are, how they treat you, or anger you have for them, you should treat them how you would want to be treated. Referring to a very common verse on love, it speaks the truth.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

I believe love isn't about finding the right person or friend, but trying to become the right person. As long as you are the opposite of everything I highlited in the verses above you cannot have love in your life. Those things are love, and those things define God.

God spoke that the greatest commandment of all is to love him with all your heart, and then love your neighbor as yourself. (matthew 22:37-40) A human's heart is always happiest when it beats for others. When we feel like we love, when we feel loved, when we feel like we want to give... it's just a beautiful feeling. If you think about the feeling, it covers up all the anger, sadness, and depression of life. Love covers a multitude of sins and is so vital to living a Godly life. Let your love for your significant other, friend, family, or strange rejoice in the truth and not in sex, drugs, jealousy, envy, or etc. I just encourage everyone to go out of love others as yourself, and to remember the true ways of love (1 corinthians 13:4-8). Apply these in your life and keep God as your number one, he will never fail you, he always loves you.



Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Matthew 22:37-40