1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

2 For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!

16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

30 And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

— Romans 8:1-2; 14-16; 26; 29-30

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

The transformation of God’s children isn’t about trying harder or becoming more religious. It’s about surrendering to the work of the Spirit, and allowing Him to reshape our thoughts, our desires in our actions. This is how we grow and be conformed into the images of Christ. God created us to lead a life in the Spirit means being led by God‘s wisdom instead of our own impulses, trusting in His timing instead of our own plans and living in His strength instead of relying on our own.

It means that when we face challenges or temptations, we don’t face them alone. The Spirit is there guiding us, strengthening us and giving us the wisdom we need to make choices that honor God’s life in the Spirit. It also means we have a deep lasting hope even in the midst of suffering. Paul acknowledges that life will bring difficulties, but he reassures us that the Spirit is with us and always ready to help us through every trial with a purpose to renew our knowledge of Him and to mold us into God’s image.