Living After the Spirit, Not the Flesh

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philip. 4:8). Now let's add this to the menu: "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Gal. 6:8). And that sounds quite a lot like this: "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom. 8:5,6). And the point? Well, it's evident I'm sure, but just for the record, if we want faith to grow, we need to feed faith. If we want God's love to grow in us, then we need to do things that will feed that love. Humility? Same thing. And how about temperance, peace, etc. That's right, you guessed it. Do the things that feed these divine virtues, and "abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (I Pet. 2:11). If we keep ourselves in and on the things that God has done in our lives, and on the things that God is developing in us; and we "deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, we [can] live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Tit. 2:12). And as the references from Galatians and Romans stated, that is where our hope of salvation dwells (I Thess. 5:8; Eph. 4:4). Amen.