Living by the Spirit
The devotions for this week are featured in LCA International Mission’s 2025 ‘Pentecost Devotional and Prayer Guide’ and are written by mission partners from around the world. LCA International Mission invites you to pray during Pentecost for the connections and ministries of our international partners. As we mark 50 days after Easter, may this guide encourage you to reflect on the work of the Holy Spirit in your own life and how you can respond to God’s love. An electronic copy of the full devotional is available to download at the LCA International Mission website. Please email lcaim@lca.org.au or phone 08 8267 7317 to request a printed copy.
by Evaena Sumbayak
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You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you (Romans 8:9a).
Read Romans 8:1–17
In this season of Pentecost, we are reminded of the profound role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Today’s text offers us a powerful message about the contrast between living according to the flesh and living by the Spirit. The flesh, marked by sin, leads to death, while the Spirit brings life, enabling us to live righteously.
Paul emphasises that the Spirit of God is not a distant force but dwells within us. This is the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, and it is through this Spirit that we experience spiritual resurrection. Although our physical bodies are still subject to sin and death, the Spirit brings us life through righteousness, transforming us from the inside out.
Living by the Spirit is more than just following rules; it is about embracing a new way of life empowered by God’s presence. The Spirit guides us to resist the desires of the flesh and live in a way that reflects God’s righteousness. It is through the Spirit that we participate in God’s redemptive story, not merely as passive followers but as active witnesses to God’s love and power.
Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not confined to the early church but is alive and working in believers today. The Spirit empowers us to live out God’s will, to love others, and to be agents of change in the world. He is a continuous presence, equipping us to reflect God’s character in our daily lives.
In this Pentecost season, let us open our hearts to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and be reminded of the new life we have in Christ, both now and in eternity.
How is the Holy Spirit at work in your life? To what degree are you allowing the Spirit to guide your actions, shape your character and lead you toward a life of righteousness and peace?
Pray for the National Committee Lutheran World Federation in Indonesia (KN-LWF), as the Spirit works in and through it to bring life-transforming grace to others.
Evaena Sumbayak is the Program Officer, Gender Justice, Child Policy, Disability and Education, at KN-LWF, Indonesia.
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