If…Then…

May 9th, 2025

Romans 8:9-17

Over the past year, I have learned a lot about educating children in a formal classroom setting. An important part of that are the classroom procedures and expectations. I have learned that often children need to know which action and result goes together, or, as we put it: “If you do . . . then you will get . . . .” For example, if you clean up your desk, then you can go to recess early.

It clearly lays out expectations for actions and results. I believe that Paul is laying out something similar when he states, “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (v. 14). Wiggle room doesn’t exist in this statement: We are either led by the Spirit and are thus children of God or we are not.

Humanity has attempted for years (thousands of years) to find a way around this: keeping rules, looking/sounding perfect, judging others, hiding flaws. Yet none of that, no matter how soundproof it looks to be, is a substitute for the “if, then” of God. We are either being led by the Spirit or we are not.

Who is leading you today?

Author: Stefanie Hendrickson