Thinking Pro-Life

To live the kingdom life as a disciple of Jesus is to be pro-life. Now as soon as you hear those words, you probably think we are about to talk about one of the great social and political issues of our time (at least for Americans). Abortion is tragic and the cavalier attitude that many have about it is even more tragic, but that is not where we are going today.

Another issue is not often discussed, but killing your enemy is also tragic and a matter that Jesus addressed with some stunning words, but that is not our topic either.

When I say that those who live by the Spirit and not by the old nature must be pro-life, I am talking today about how our thinking must be life-affirming. In Romans 8 we read, “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…” Romans 8:6 (NIV). The Spirit is clearly pro-life, but for some of us, too much of our thinking is life-denying.

· “I just don’t have what it takes.”
· “Relationships hurt too much.”
· “Just look at me. God could never use me.”
· “That happened? That’s a bummer.”
· “I am so stupid. I will just mess everything up.”
· “Something must be wrong with me. I just can’t have faith.”

Such words, when replayed over and over, suck the life out of us. We are using thought and energy to deny life.

But, thank God, a mind can be changed and life can be affirmed. “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…”

Focus Scripture

Romans 8:5-16
5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.    .

Real Power Needed

I recently heard someone who lives in Eastern Europe talk how our lives can become cold and lifeless. He described being in Moscow last winter when it was -38 degrees Celsius (which is -36 degrees Fahrenheit). In that severe condition his car had no life. The battery was stone cold dead.

He went on. Was the answer to give the car a new paint job? Perhaps cleaning all the trash out of the passenger compartment would help. Since he was in Russia, maybe the answer was to open the hood and pour a generous portion of Vodka on the engine. As creative as that sounds, it would not work. The only answer was to get the cold dead battery connected with a strong power source that could recharge it.

We don’t have to be mechanics to see that, but his point was that when it comes to our lives, we often try all the wrong things to get ourselves going. We think a new look will perk us up or that the answer is to get more organized. Our brain remembers a nice feeling we have after a glass of wine, and we decide that more of that will be good for us.

When the battery is dead, finding a friend or at least an auto service, raising the hood, putting on the jumper cables and connecting with a strong live battery may not sound so glamorous but it is the only answer. Like the car in Moscow, we will find no cosmetic or alcoholic solution when we are stalled. We need a connection with power. Openness with a friend, focus on Scripture and patient time in prayer brings the dead back to life.

Focus Scripture

Psalm 42:1-5

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"
4These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.

5Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.