Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Alex Buabeng-Korsah

TOPIC: THE POWER

THEME SCRIPTURE: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” — Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:

1. What does it mean to live yielded as a Christian?

Romans 8 is the high point of Paul’s theology of the Spirit. After exposing the futility of self-effort in Romans 7— “The good I want to do, I do not do…” —Paul opens chapter 8 with a declaration of hope: No condemnation for those who walk by the Spirit. In other words, those who are born by the Spirit but walks with their minds, or those who began in the Spirit but want to be perfected in the flesh, will (Gal 3:3).

The Christian life isn’t about trying harder— it’s about trusting deeper.

The flesh, no matter how disciplined, cannot produce righteousness. Why? Because the flesh is corrupt by nature. But the Spirit of God, indwelling the believer, brings a new law— the law of life in Christ, which lifts us above the pull of sin, just as a bird obeying the law of aerodynamics escapes gravity.

St. Basil the Great once wrote, “The Spirit is the perfecting cause of our restoration.” We are not called to conquer sin in our own strength but to yield to the Spirit, who empowers us to obey from the inside out.

The Spirit doesn’t merely restrain sin—He replaces it with a higher affection: love for God.

Beloved, are you weary of trying to be holy through sheer willpower? God never intended for you to succeed apart from Him. The Spirit isn’t a backup plan— He is the plan. Living by the Spirit means listening for His promptings, leaning on His strength, and resting in His work. It’s not passive, but it is active dependence.

Thomas Manton, a Puritan preacher, said, “Without the Spirit, we can neither will, nor do, anything pleasing to God.” The victorious life isn’t lived by gritting your teeth but by bending your knee—yielded, attentive, and obedient to the Holy Spirit who dwells within.

Precious one, walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16)

Remain blessed.

FURTHER READING – Romans 8  

Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so.

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:

1. Am I striving to please God in my own strength, or am I yielding to the Spirit daily?  

2. What habits help me stay sensitive to the Spirit’s promptings?  

3. Where do I need to stop striving and start surrendering?

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, forgive me for trusting my flesh more than Your power. Teach me to walk by You, not by my own strength. Help me to listen, yield, and obey Your promptings. Let my life be marked by freedom, not frustration. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.  

One-Year Bible Reading Plan

Psalm 83; Revelation 2; 2 Chronicles 22