LEARNING DAILY

Romans 8:7, For the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law, indeed it cannot. (English Standard Version)

Romans 8:7, For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. (New Living Translation)

This verse was yesterday’s blog written by Dr. Ed Newton, Lead Pastor at Community Bible Church. I want to use it today as a reference to further explain the role of a disciple. Yesterday, I mentioned that each day a Believer, a disciple needs to choose whether to follow God or to follow their own desires. Pastor Newton said in his blog that these are the only two choices each day that shape our lives. With that in mind I want to explore this verse further and use several of his statements to clarify being a disciple.

“For the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God”. This is a person whose mind is focused on meeting their own sinful, self-centered wants and needs and nothing else. This is a mindset that is antigod and believes he/she will serve themselves before anyone or anything else – including God. Pastor Newton wrote in his blog, “When you live only to please yourself, your heart is constantly at war with God’s will.”

Romans 8:8 is clear that God wants the Believer to choose to be obedient to Him, to choose to follow Him each day. “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” That sounds pretty harsh, doesn’t it. However, when you consider what Paul is writing it makes sense. Christians are no longer people who are “in the flesh”. They are “a new creation’ The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christians are to, “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness”. (Ephesians 4:24). As soon as one accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, their position changed from “being in the flesh” to “being in the Spirit”. You might think of it as you stopped walking on the “broad way that leads to destruction” to walking on “the narrow way that leads you into the kingdom of God” (Matthew 7:13-14). Paul is not only writing about sexual sin or greed, but about all self-serving sins.

Paul also tells how God feels about people – He is not pleased with those who choose not to follow Him. It does not take long to understand this if you take time to read the Old Testament; God continually used the prophets to tell people to return to Him and no longer worship the gods of those in the world. He finally had enough of them and judgment/punishment came. The New Testament also tells of judgment/punishment that comes for those who reject His Son and follow after their own self-center agenda.

God is pleased with those who choose to follow Jesus because He is pleased with His Son (Matthew 17:5). Choosing to follow Jesus means “surrendering your own desires and trusting His will above your own. It’s not about living a perfect life. It’s about living a surrendered life” (Ed Newton). As a Believer, your faith in Him, pleases Him! “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6).

Today you have a choice. You have the same choice tomorrow and the day after that. Who will you choose to follow? Which path will you walk on – the broad way or the narrow way?