Bible
Study: Romans 8, 18 to 25. And Luke 13, 18 to 21.
To live in
the Spirit, we must grow our spiritual selves and unless we allow this growth
happen, we are bound to live perpetually in the flesh. If we feed the flesh on
a daily basis with good food, water, air and light, then the spirit likewise
needs an ample amount of nourishment in other to have enough energy to control
the movements of the flesh.
Every growth
requires death. For something to grow, something has to die. If there is no
death, there will be no growth. Just as a seed that is planted will not grow
unless it first dies under the ground, so also we would not grow spiritually
unless we first put to death the works of the flesh.
The
process of putting to death the works of the flesh demands that we no longer
look forward to or take pleasure in those things that are against the
commandments of God. This process may appear rather painful and difficult given
that it practically involves having to deliberately carry the cross of suffering.
Hence, St.
Paul having talked about the need for us to put to death the works of the flesh
so that we may live in the Spirit comes around today to tell us that “the
sufferings of this present life are not worth comparing with the glory that is
to be revealed to us.” In other words, whatever we have to suffer is like
paying a little token to purchase an item that is far more valuable and
precious than anything we can think of. It is like letting go of Five Naira to
purchase of brand new car of Five Million Naira.
This is
why we must not be afraid or discouraged if we have to choose the narrow path
of suffering. Suffering as St. Paul says teaches us the virtue of perseverance and
perseverance produces hope. And it is in hope that we are saved. This is the
hope that Jesus was talking about in the Gospel passage when he compared the
kingdom of God to a grain of mustard seed which when planted is quite small yet
grows to become the biggest shrub giving accommodation to the birds of the air.
This is the hope that a tiny amount of leaven when mixed with as much as three
measures of flour will make the entire meal into leavened bread.
When we start
living according to the spirit, we find ourselves taking only tiny steps at
firsts. At times, we find ourselves even falling back shamefully into the works
of the flesh and we begin to wonder if there is any hope for us doing away
completely with the flesh. But as Jesus says, no matter how little we begin, as
long as we never look back having placed our hands on the plough, we would grow
and keep growing. As much as it is difficult for us right now to practice acts
of virtue, time will come when our very habits will be virtues, time will come
that we would be so used to living in the spirit that the flesh and its desires
would no longer control us anymore. This tiny seed will become the greatest
shrub. Don’t give up.
Let us Pray:
Lord
Jesus, help me not be afraid of death and may I constantly die within me to
anything that is opposed to the spirit. May I never become discouraged by
whatever suffering that may come my way as I die to the flesh and may your Holy
Spirit take over my life completely. Amen.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.
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