Bonus Tracks

Remember bonus tracks?? I'm sure they are still out there ... those tracks at the end of the record ... sorry tape ... sorry CD ... ugh ... whatever ...

Sometimes you had to wait for several minutes for it to begin in eager anticipation!

(I guess we have the 1st and 2nd trailers now at the end of Marvel movies!)

Anyway - I know there were exceptions, but most of those bonus tracks were pretty lame, sorry. Often a remix, sometimes a recording that didn't quite go through the rest of the production process (i.e. something that didn't make the cut) ... it's not like it was THAT fantastic ... if it was it would have been, well, one of the songs listed on the album!!!

That's kind of what I thought of when reading Romans 8 this morning, particularly verse 6. That chapter is filled with some amazing theology about God's love, the life to come, and in this case, life in the Spirit; versus life in the flesh.

Flesh = Death
Spirit = Life

That theme is highlighted multiple times ... but what I love about verse 6 is that there is a bonus track to living in the Spirit ... something that comes along with that purchase (paid by Christ, not us) that is anything by lame ... it's not just death on one side and life on the other ... check this out ...

'For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ' - Romans 8:6

What a kicker to add in - peace! Is there anyone who doesn't want to receive the gift of peace in today's crazy broken world? It may be the horrific stories on the news, the horrific news in our family, or simply the everyday craziness of life with work, family, and tasks ...

Peace ...

However, to apply this, it comes with a very critical instruction - in the fact the verse before sets this up ...

'For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ' - Romans 8:5

Not surprisingly it starts with what we set our mind to - and the need to renew our mind (Romans 12:1-2) ... are our cares, passions, convictions aligned with God? Are the things that are important to God important to us? Are the things that are unimportant to God unimportant to us?

We may be able to receive salvation and never live in peace ... but that is not His wish for us.

Peace may look different than what we imagine - but that gift is still a promise ...

Let us set our minds on the right things ...

His,
~Matthew

Prayer Request: Prayers for unmentioned friends going through a very difficult time in their marriage. May minds be set on Him and not the flesh - may sin be vanquished and repenting be met with a greater understand of sacrificial love.

Praise: Thankful for a productive start to my extended time home with family on this Holiday weekend. Much work yesterday and today leaves me with time to rest and enjoy my family as well as spend more time with Him. Also thankful for a wonderful dinner with my father-in-law today and time spent that is always so precious.