“Gramma the book keeps talking about the importance of choosing to live your life in the Spirit. How can I tell if I am living my life in the Spirit?”
The old lady, putting down her magazine, move closer to her grand child and replied as she picked up her trusted bible:
“I am really happy you asked me about the meaning of life in the spirit. This is the very basis of being a Christian, a follower of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It means living a life that pleases the Almighty and rejects all others. Let me read from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans Chapter 8, Verses 1-4:
There is therefore now no condemnation
to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit.
to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit.
“When St. Paul used the words ‘walk’ he is referring to the overall way you conduct your daily life. So that when you ‘walk according to the flesh’ you are living as you please, guided by what your mind tells you, without any regard to God’s teachings. It does not necessarily mean leading a wicked or sinful life but leading a life without the Holy Spirit. While ‘to walk in the Spirit’ means that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, and have chosen to follow him and to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit. It simply means living a true Christian Life.”
Continuing, she proceeded to read verse 2:
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has made me free from the law of sin and death.
has made me free from the law of sin and death.
“The Lord is telling us that we have the option to choose one of two laws to live our lives. These are not like regular laws of the land that you must obey or be punished, but rather they are moral codes that exist in your heart and your mind, which you chose to follow by your own free will. You are free to chose either the Law of the Spirit, with its life of true freedom in spirit obtained for us by our Savior, Jesus Christ or the Law of the Flesh and Sin, which will inevitably lead away from God and on to death. This is the only choice we have, either to live or to die!”
Ana, showing an understanding far above her tender age, perked up and looking directly at her grand mother remarked:
“This must be why God sent his only son to suffer and die on the cross for us, so that he will free us to follow the Holy Spirit!”
The old lady, pleased with the child’s insight, replied:
“Yes indeed, my dear Ana you are so right, as you will see when I continue to read verses 3 and 4:"
For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh,
God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,
on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us
who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,
on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us
who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
“God has shown the extreme message of his absolute rejection of the sins of the flesh by sending his only son to pay the ultimate price in his suffering and death so as to afford us the option to freely reject the ways of the flesh, and choose to live in goodness and righteousness according to the teaching of the Holy Spirit. This is God’s promise, it is up to us to choose to accept it and to follow in his footsteps or to turn our backs and continue to live the life of the sinner. It is up to each one of us to make our choice.”
Ana sat quietly in deep thought, taking in every word her wise grand mother had spoken, and after some time had elapsed, she got up slowly and looking directly into the old lady’s face exclaimed so the whole world can hear:
“Thank you Almighty God for sending your son, Jesus Christ,
And thank you for teaching me to Walk in the Spirit.”
And thank you for teaching me to Walk in the Spirit.”
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