Romans 12 + God, Our Father // Paul Lee

• Romans 8 confronts us with two ways of living: according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. Living by the flesh produces rotten fruit—stress, fear, striving, and a constant sense of debt. But living by the Spirit brings life and peace.
  
  
• Paul says we are no longer under a spirit of slavery (v. 15). That old way feels familiar—always measuring worth, always striving to earn freedom, always driven by fear. But in Christ, we are redeemed and no longer debtors to the flesh.
  
  
• From this passage we see that life in the Spirit means:
  
  
  1. A new source — no longer poisoned roots of fear and striving, but the Spirit of adoption, drawing us into security and love.
     
     
  2. A new identity — not slaves but beloved children, fully known and fully loved by the Father (Tim Keller).
     
     
  3. A new hope — though we still “live in the orphanage” (v. 23) and face suffering, we have an eternal home prepared by Christ and an abundant life of rest and security now.
• The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (v. 16). Adoption means we belong forever, secure in love. Even as we struggle with old habits of fear and death, the Father is reshaping us into people of hope, peace, and intimacy with Him.

Pray

• (Pray for adoption identity) Father, thank You that in Christ I am no longer a slave to fear but Your child. Forgive me for drawing from poisoned sources of fear and striving. Spirit of adoption, root me deeply in Your love, teach me to live secure in who I am, and remind me of the eternal home You are preparing. May I walk each day with confidence, intimacy, and hope as Your beloved child.