Moved

How do you make decisions in life? What are your top priorities? If someone hears your words or observes your actions, what would the person say motivates you? What drives you? What keeps you focused? What moves you? What can make you change your mind? What can cause you to rethink something or to do something completely different from the past?

Today’s verse is Romans 8:14: “The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit” (TPT). The NLT reads: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” Simply put, Spirit led are children of God. Now we know that if you believe in Jesus Christ, you are a child of God (John 1:12, Galatians 3:26). We know that if we believe in Jesus Christ, we are baptized in the Holy Spirit — you receive and are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).  The Passion Translations references “mature children of God,” which points to something that has grown or advanced. Now this is isn’t saying that if you are a new believer, you haven’t received the Holy Spirit. The verse is saying that as you mature, as you grow in Him, you will be more Spirit led. This means that as you continue to walk with Jesus, your words and deeds, your life itself, everything should be flowing more from your relationship with Jesus. Everything should point to Him.

All the questions asked early on in this devotion — the answers would be more God-focused. As you grow in your faith in Jesus, you look to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to help you make decisions. God’s will is a top priority. Your worldview transforms into a biblical worldview. You are motivated to glorify God. You are more Spirit led as you go through your day. You even find yourself being convicted by the Spirit on things you used to view as normal and gloss over.

The passage in Romans 8 focuses on being heirs with Christ. We read that old things are put to death because we no longer are living by the flesh. We are being made new in Christ Jesus. We are no longer slaves to sin. We are sons and daughters of the King. We cry out “Abba, Father” because of this special relationship we have with Him. The Holy Spirit joins with our spirit to bear witness to all people that we are children of God. This joining together — this listening to the Holy Spirit, being guided by the Holy Spirit — this relationship is what causes us to be moved. People see our words and deeds and that testifies that we are God’s children as we aren’t acting like the children of this world. We are different. We are children of the King. 

Now back to the questions at the beginning. Are you feeling like you are a mature child of God? Are you moved by the Holy Spirit? Pray over these questions. Ask God to reveal to you the true nature of your heart. Ask the Spirit to move in you and open your eyes to see what you have been clinging to that shouldn’t be there. Don’t be too hard on yourself. We are still being made new. Don’t be too hard on others. We each have a different journey, and the Spirit is working on different things with each of us. Even still, lean into God and be moved. Be moved by His Word. Be moved by His love. Be moved by His Spirit. If He’s not leading, for whom are you really living?