Devotion #6: The Spirit Gives Life
Today, we are looking at a powerful truth from Romans 8:9-11 about the Holy Spirit and how He gives us life. Paul says: “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”
Paul is making something clear here: when we belong to Christ, we are not “in the flesh.” We are in the Spirit. That is a huge shift. Living in the flesh means living by our own power, stuck in cycles of sin and struggle. However, when the Holy Spirit lives in us, something amazing happens. The Spirit does not just influence us; He transforms us from the inside out.
In verse 10, Paul says, “But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” We are all affected by sin; it is the human condition. Our bodies break down, we deal with temptation, and ultimately, there is a physical death that awaits us all. However, the Spirit of God, Who lives in us, brings a whole new kind of life. This is not just physical life, but it is a spiritual life that is deeply connected to God. Through the Spirit, we are made righteous, no longer separated from God by our sin.
In verse 11, Paul brings it home: “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” This is amazing! The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us. Think about the power in that statement. That is not a small, quiet power. That is resurrection power. The Spirit gives us life, filling us with hope, joy, and strength for every day, but He also promises us a future resurrection.
So, what does this mean for us today? It means we do not have to live as if we are defeated. When we face trials, challenges, or even our own weaknesses, we can remember that the Spirit within us is stronger than anything we will face. The Spirit gives us life that overcomes death, hope that outweighs despair, and power that surpasses our human limitations.
Today, let us lean into the life that the Spirit brings. Invite Him into your struggles, decisions, and worries. Know that because He lives in you, you are never without hope, strength, or life.