Whose spirit is leading them, and me?

Good morning,

I wonder how Adam and Eve were able to handle the shocking truth that their first born son, Cain, became so full of hatred toward God that he felt justified in killing his God loving brother?  The whole affair started over who was loving God the right way.  Centuries later when Jesus, the Son of God, came to show the world how much the Father cared for those he had called into life, it was those who called themselves God’s lovers’ who sentenced Jesus to die an unjust death on a cruel cross.  Even though the crucified Jesus returned to life and is now seated at God’s right hand, his wonderful act of paying the price for all our sins is usually lost on the majority of those who call themselves followers of “The Way” or Christians as we know them today. Time has not weakened our sin nature in any way.  The fact that we know the right things and do the right things and call ourselves by the right name is still an expression of genuine faith or a coverup for people who are living life for themselves at the expense of those who are foolish enough to obey the God of the Bible.

When Paul was writing the Church at Rome he was writing them as an expert on the power of our sin nature.
The young Saul, the Pharisee, was an expert at uncovering and killing the fools who were following that “false teacher” Jesus.  He lived that way with unwavering conviction until the day he met Jesus face to face on the dusty road to Damascus.  The voice of his loving Savior changed his heart forever, but it didn’t change his basic sin nature.  As God’s child he still struggled with the temptations that tried to define life based on his own self centered interests.  Now as an old man with year of experience of following his Savior, he pointed out to his fellow Christians that the battle for control could not be won without the power of God’s Holy Spirit.  It is only the Holy Spirit who can change our self centered  way of life into a life of willing obedience to a loving, Holy Father.  Paul also had to learn the hard lesson that just because someone claimed to be a follower of Jesus didn’t mean they really were.  Those who lived life for themselves were on the road to death.  Titles don’t save us.  The only genuine proof of our relationship with the God of the Universe is that we are led by the Spirit of God.  Dear Lord, help us to recognize this difference in our selves and in those around us.

Romans 8: 12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
Roy Wisner