Relationships: Passing the Vibe CheckSample

Day 2: The Holy Spirit IN You

Romans 8:10-20 New Living Translation (NLT)

10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

When you are living for God and following His commands by walking in obedience to His will, you are POWERFUL. The most awesome benefit of living in Jesus is the gift of forgiveness of our sins and everlasting life. But think about this verse where Paul says God will give life to our mortal bodies. We don’t have to wait for heaven to access this power. Because of the gift of the Holy Spirit inside of us as believers, we can rest in this power now. On this side of heaven.

Paul continues with clarity:

12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

You aren’t tied to sin and poor relationships because you can use the power of the Holy Spirit to kill off the urges of this flesh and this world. You can choose a different path in your life. You are a powerful child of God!

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. Together with Christ, we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

You aren't a slave to your anxiety, fear, GPA, drinking, promiscuity, cell phone, or broken relationships. You are a powerful child of God! While the concept is hard to imagine in this concrete world, Paul's words specifically state that God's spirit joins with your spirit. There's no separation. He IS with you, intimately, linked in the spirit. You are in a family line to inherit good things from Him, not only in heaven but also here on earth. Still, because of who we are, some people will be against us. As members of His family, we must also feel the pain and rejection that He experienced from the world.

18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children are.

If you keep your eyes on Jesus and remember who you are, you will be able to move through the relationship situations here on Earth. You might think you can’t compete with the majesty and beauty of God’s creation in nature, but Paul says that God’s creation waits to see who YOU are. Imagine blooming flowers, waterfalls, mountains and valleys, fields of a bountiful harvest, delicate birds, and even amazing lions looking at you. God's creation anticipates what you will do when you walk with God to show your gifts and talents given from Him. I'm amazed to think about how God's plan for your life includes His creation leaning in and watching you witness your transformation into a powerful, relational force for Jesus. No wonder He tells us to stay strong and take heart!

My prayer is for you to live as a victor, connecting Christian doctrine, prayer, and faith to your daily life with your relationships. Jesus said we would have problems, but He doesn't expect us to crumble under the weight the world places on us. Pray for this plan to lead you to a clearer understanding of your identity in Christ. You are a powerful child of God!