ROMANS 8:6

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,”

If you had to choose between death and life, what would you choose? Is that a dumb question? For most people, the answer is simple. They would choose life. I’m at the age now that if I had a choice, I might choose to go on and live eternally with my Master. That’s because I don’t fear death. It’s just a portal through which I travel from this earthly life to my eternal life.

Paul is talking, however, about a spiritual death. This is a death you should fear. Everything we have been told about eternal death should cause us to run directly into the arms of Jesus. But there are people who will choose the flesh and the consequence of it. Paul contrasts this spiritual death with spiritual life and peace. Look at what one source said about this. “This (by analogy with the view of ‘death’ just above in 8:5) means a state of acceptance, in its aspect (a) of pardon and consequent glory; and (b) of secure and loving intercourse with God, with all its attendant blessings.” (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)

APPLICATION

I don’t think I need to go into some deep diatribe about what this “life” is, do I? This is the same word used in John 3:16 when Jesus said we would have eternal life. It’s the same word used when John wrote in John 1:4 that Jesus was the “life.” This “life” is true life, the essence of life. It is God’s self-existent life that gives us life. Who doesn’t want that?

And then Paul adds “peace.” Peace isn’t just the absence of conflicts and wars. It’s the calmness in the midst of them. It’s that picture of a bird perched calmly on a ledge as a cascading waterfall is all around them. We can rest in any trial with that kind of peace if we have His life within us and have made peace with Him.

Life and peace are made available to all who set their minds of the Spirit. That doesn’t mean you have to walk around all the time quoting Scripture (even though you should be making in a large part of your life). You don’t have to perform some great spiritual act to receive it. Simply place your trust in Him and allow the Spirit to govern your thoughts and actions. The end result will be life and peace. Praise Jesus!

O Lord, I give You praise for the promise of life and peace as I place my mind and heart on Your Spirit.

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