The Spirit and the Flesh

This meditation is based on a passage for March 7, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Romans 8:1-10

Reflection and Question: Here is one of those places where Paul struggles to explain how we live after accepting Christ as Lord. He introduces the distinction between the spirit and the flesh, identifying spirit with Jesus and the flesh with sin. Paul insists that the flesh is death, but the spirit is life and peace. But perhaps at times we take his distinction between flesh and spirit too far. After all, Paul, as a good Jew, knew God called creation good and Paul uses the body as an image for the church more than once. How can we condemn the flesh as sin and also love God’s creation?

Prayer: Almighty Creator God, You made all that is and called it good, including our bodies, which so marvelously generate our thoughts, feelings, choices and dreams. Fill us with Your Spirit so that all that we are may glorify Your holy name. Amen.