Briefing: I have heard and read studies that say in order for a human to make something a habit, they must repeat it 21 times. I think Paul must have known about this study.

Dispatch (Assignment): Read Romans 8:5.

On the Street: Romans is a very deep, complex letter that takes some time to understand. I still do not understand all that Paul is trying to teach us but the more I read it (repetition) the easier it gets. I also gain a better understanding of Romans by reading and understanding the other 65 books of the Bible.

Paul painstakingly tackles these foundational first steps of the new, youthful Christian, in a very slow and methodical process. This is necessary to understand the mindset of Christ’s plan for us. There is a book called, “Everything I ever needed to know, I learned in kindergarten”. Kindergarten is so foundational to the development of children. They don’t learn calculus or English literature but they learn how to act and treat other people. They learn people skills, how to interact with other and how to play well with others. Paul is trying to rewire our brains to think and act like Jesus.

I am going to write out a play on words with scripture. It helps me to better understanding what I believe Paul is trying to teach us. In 1 Corinthians 13:11 it says, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” Paul is relaying the same message. Think of it like this verse in 1 Corinthians: When I was unsaved I talked like the unsaved, I thought like the unsaved, I reasoned like the unsaved, but when I was saved by Jesus Christ I put all the ways of unrighteousness behind me.

To take it a step further, before I was a peace officer, I talked like the rest of the world, I thought like the rest of the world, I reasoned like the world. When I was commissioned as a law enforcement officer, I began to think and act like a peace officer. Paul is telling us that we are different from the rest of the world and we need to start talking, thinking and reasoning like a righteous Christian. We have to put worldly things behind us.

How do we do this? We must be controlled by the Holy Spirit. We will look at “being controlled” in the next devotional.

Investigational Resources: 1 Corinthians 13:11.

Officer Safety Principle: Stop trying to fit in with the rest of the world. You are different because of your relationship with Christ. Be proud of that and let the rest of the world see it.

from The Book of Romans Through the Eyes of a Cop
©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
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