No Condemnation

       One morning many years ago, the school bus rolled into the parking lot of my school.  It looked strange, because all of the students were standing outside and no students were going into the building.  Upon exiting the bus, I was told that the students were on strike against some of the actions of the principal of the school.  Somehow, my mother had learned of the ruckus that was going on and found a way to get to the school.  She found me, grabbed my by the hand and led me across the street to a friends house, where we stayed clear of the events that were unfolding at the school.  She was going to make sure that I didn't get involved in anything inappropriate or say anything that might get me into trouble.   She was going to be sure I was innocent.  Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." 
         In all of the things that go on in the world today in which we are involved, we find that we definitely need Someone to take care of us, take us by the hand, and keep us from trouble.  How can we be declared innocent?  This is the major question which seems to be answered in this verse.  If you are in Christ, you are, indeed, declared to be innocent.  There is no condemnation that can be brought against you.  We also learn that the person who is in Christ is not only free from condemnation, but that they are walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh.  They are following the steps of the Lord Jesus Christ in whatever they do.  When we follow after the flesh, we do that which feels good, seems right to us and leads to destruction.  To walk after the Spirit is to go in the way that Christ would go in each and every circumstance.  Before we are saved, we are walking in a way that is contrary to the direction that God wants us to go.  We are following after the flesh because that is the only way we know.  Christ, however, provides a new direction for us and we are not bound to walking in the path of the flesh.  Parents will often do whatever needs to be done in order to keep their children from harm.  God does it even better through the guidance of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  As you go out into the world today, just remember to follow in the footsteps that he has outlined and walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh.  Praise God today that He still guides and protects.