January 8

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, is that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your moral bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

"Very beautiful is that word 'Abba' just here. It is the Syriac and Chaldee form for the Hebrew term for father. It is a little up-thrusting of

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the apostle's mother tongue. Though we be adepts in any other language, the speech we use to express overflowing feeling is always that which we learned at our mother's knee. And there is such a swell and throb of filialness in the apostle's heart toward the Heavenly Father, that even though he must immediately translate it, there is no word to tell his consciousness of his close, free sonship but the word that used to be prattle on his lip when he was a child."—Wayland Hoyt.

"It is the calling to, just as a young child lisps to its father in simple, childlike confidence."—Luther.

"We are 'heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ,' according to the declaration of the apostle. All that there is of beauty, and richness, and sweetness, and grandeur, and authority in Christ, is not simply something to which we are permitted to look, but it is ours. We have the same right in it that a child has in the dignity and elevation of his father. If the father comes to honor, and is of universal repute, the child feels stronger, and richer, and happier. The father's name is the child's glory, as the child's prosperity is the father's joy. All that God has, is mine. All that He is, is mine."—H. W. Beecher.

Closet Promise. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His.—1 Tim. ii. 19.

"Thou knowest, Lord, the weariness and sorrow Of the sad heart that comes to Thee for rest; Cares of to-day, and burdens for to-morrow, Blessings implored, and sins to be confessed: I come before Thee at Thy gracious word, And lay them at Thy feet! Thou knowest, Lord.

Thou knowest not alone as God, all knowing; As man, our mortal weakness Thou hast proved; On earth with purest sympathies o'er flowing, O Saviour! Thou hast wept, and Thou hast loved. And love and sorrow still to Thee may come, And find a hiding place, a rest, a home."