Living According To The Spirit

Scripture Texts: Romans 8:4b-11

What are you living for?  Why do you get up every morning?  Why do you keep doing what you keep doing?  What do you want out of life?

What do most people want out of life?  Basically, to make enough money or have enough money so they can enjoy all the good things money provides, creature comforts, conveniences, and pleasures.  To be able to enjoy life, to have fun.  Isn’t that really what it all boils down to, the pursuit of pleasure.  And the desire to be fulfilled, to be satisfied.

And nothing like the summer to bring all of this out in all of us.  Summer is the time we look forward to, to enjoy ourselves, have some fun, take some time off, go on vacation, get away from it all, get outside and enjoy all the good things of life, time with family and friends.

And what is so wrong with all of those things?  They are good things from God.  We are looking forward to enjoying these things with our family.  The trouble comes if that is all we want, all we pursue, all we think about.  This life and no more.

What are you living for?  Who are you living for?

So you say you are a Christian.  What difference does that make?  How does that make you any different from everyone else, from your non-believing friend or neighbor?  What’s the difference between a Christian in name only, and a Christian who is really living as a Christian?