Soul Care – Relational Formation

Over these last months, we have learned much together. We have discovered the depth and breadth of God’s love for us. We learned to trust Him fully as we grew in our love for Him. We also grasped the truth that He desires to transform us fully, so we can experience the abundant life He promised. 

Everything we are learning is a part of our relational formation. In 1 John 2:27, John writes, “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.” John is describing our transformation by God through soul care – our spiritual formation via the Holy Spirit. As believers, we know the Spirit of Christ lives in us, teaching us the truth and transforming us to resist the lies of the enemy. 

Our spiritual formation allows us to live in the truths we receive from the Holy Spirit. We were created as human beings for the interpersonal attachment and communion with God the Father by Jesus Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Our relationship with God is a transformational reality which comes with this promise, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17). In fact, our relationship with God is defined by how we “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16) not by doctrines or even ethics. God’s Word is clear, we are to remain in Christ in order to thrive – it is our soul care, genuine transformation and spiritual formation through our covenant relationship with God.

Can you guess the challenge to our spiritual formation? The original sin (all humans inherited the consequences of the first sin in the Garden of Eden) leaves us disconnected and under sin’s power. Romans 13:14 has the solution, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Relational transformation and spiritual formation (soul care) comes as the Spirit retrains us. Letting the Spirit control our minds leads to live and peace – we are no longer controlled by our sinful nature, but by the Spirit of God living in us. This week, let us rid ourselves of deeds of the flesh (sin) and let the Holy Spirit teach, train, and guide our lives.