Devotion: Whom Do You Walk After?

Whom do you walk after?  Are you one who be in Christ but walks after the flesh?  Or are you one who be in Christ and walks after the Spirit?

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1 KJV).

For them who be in Christ but walk after the flesh, allowing themselves to be controlled by their lower natures give their minds over to the things of the flesh and live only to please themselves.  But them who be in Christ but walk after the Spirit, allowing themselves to be controlled by the Spirit give their minds over to the things of the Spirit and live only to do those things that please God.  Those who walk or follow after the flesh are carnally minded and headed for condemnation and death, because the carnally minded are enmity against God and cannot please God.  But those who walk or follow after the Spirit are spiritually minded and headed for life and peace (Romans 8:5-8).

Not long ago, we discussed a phrase that was coined to define a so-called believer who confesses and believes in Christ Jesus but lives a lifestyle that does not appear to glorify God while claiming the forgiveness and acceptance of God.  In that discussion we found that “a person who believes in Jesus Christ as his or her savior but is dominated by the physical needs or the strong desires of the body or the flesh in contrast to all that is spiritual” is by definition, “a carnal Christian.”  We also found that “carnal mindedness was enmity against God” (Romans 8:7) and determined on only following one’s evil flesh nature.

We found that making the effort to follow after the Spirit actually led to us being controlled by the things of the Spirit.  We also found that those who are living according to the way of the Spirit give their minds to the things of the Spirit.  They be controlled by their spiritual natures and give their minds to spiritual things.  They want to live their lives doing those things that were pleasing to God, which in itself leads to life and peace everlasting.  And this is why there is therefore now no condemnation to them, which are in Christ Jesus, who walk after the Spirit.

What so many who walk after the flesh fail to understand is that their carnal Christian lifestyle actually does not and never can obey or please God because their “carnal mindedness was enmity against God,” bent on only following their evil flesh nature.  We see from the eighth chapter of Romans that those who are living according to the way of the flesh give their minds to the things of the flesh.  They be controlled by their earthly natures and give their minds to earthly things.  This “carnal mindedness” is in total opposition to God, does not submit to the law of God, and is not able to do so.  Those whose minds are given to the flesh cannot please God.  This is why there is therefore condemnation to them, which are in Christ Jesus, who walk after the flesh.

But thank God for his grace and mercy and for revealing the truth to us.  Since the Spirit of God resides in us, then we be not in the flesh but in the spirit.  We are devoted to the spiritual things and are not devoted to earthly things, because the Spirit dwells in us.  If the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead be dwelling in us, then he who raised up Christ from the dead will in the same way, through his Spirit that is in us, give life to our mortal body, which is currently under the power of death.  Therefore, if Christ be in us, then our body be dead because of sin but our spirit has life because of righteousness.

If any man has not the spirit of Christ, he is not one of his and does not belong to him.  He is in debt, for it is his lower nature, the way of the flesh that he be obligated to live under the rule of.  If anyone lives according to the way of the flesh, then death will come to him.  But if he be under the influence of the Spirit and have put to death the works of the body, meaning you have put to death your old bodily habits, you will live, for only those who are led and guided by the Spirit of God are the true sons of God.  If you be in Christ, then walk, not after the flesh, which actually pertains to “The Law”, but after the Spirit, which actually pertains to “grace and truth.”  “So, whom do you walk after?”  You may want to examine yourself just to make sure you are actually walking after the right one.

As always, we pray that our inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW