ICS Daily Devotions
My Soul, My Thoughts
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
We are a three-part being, comprising of body, soul, and spirit. Our body doesn’t change after we have accepted Christ. The Bible tells us that it is the “spirit man” that is totally new. Therefore, what is left to be transformed is the soul. This Scripture tells us that the soul is a different entity from the spirit. The “spirit man” is a new creation—made alive and has communication with the Holy Spirit. However, the soul, or the work of the flesh, might be a hindrance in allowing the Spirit to reign in us because our will and volition is in the realm of the soul. Because God respects our decisions, even though the Holy Spirit will prompt us to do what is right, He will not impose us to do it. It is the soul that holds our decision making.
The soul is very self-centred. It is inclined to respond to all the senses that come from the body if we would allow it to. It is accustomed to doing and saying what we like without accountability or restraint. Because the lust of the world and the lust of the flesh used to govern our soul, our soul desires to have immediate gratification whether it is sex, money, or power. The lust for sex comes through what we read, watch, listen to, and through our thought life, whereas the lust for power and money will cause somebody to apply unethical and unscrupulous means to get it. We want all the pleasures of this life including material goods, wealth, or social status.
While the “spirit man” is born again and completely new, the soul must be retrained and renewed for it to come in line with the Word of God. The Word of God can help us to differentiate what is coming out of our “spirit man” and thoughts that are from the soul. If our mind is not renewed, our thought life which is subject to the world’s influence can be very carnal. Therefore, we need to subdue the work of the flesh and choose to walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:18 (NKJV) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
We need to yield to the Holy Spirit to live victoriously over sin. Used to living in the realm of the soul, we need to train our soul so that it doesn’t hinder our Christian living. When the mind has been renewed and is informed that we are no longer a slave to the law of sin and death but are empowered by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, more victories over the flesh will be seen daily.
Sermon Series: The Make-up of Man
