“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Gal. 5:16,17 .
Devotional Thought For The Day
Thus Paul describes the great conflict that exists in the hearts and minds of all Christians. For those who are not Christians do not have the Spirit and hence have nothing within them to oppose the “desires of the flesh” – only the strictures and laws of the land and perhaps the expectations of others around them who uphold notions of decency and goodness. They may feel themselves in conflict with the society and culture around them, or certain individuals who have higher standards, but they have no internal conflicts – they know what they want to do and are eager to find increasing liberty and freedom to fulfill these desires. They use philosophy and politics to try to change any laws that restrict them, and are willing to use satire, art, entertainment, and propaganda to belittle and even demonize anyone who opposes their “freedoms,” all in order to advance their “right” to do as their sinful flesh compels them. This is the cultural war that Christians have faced from the very beginning, including times in history where Christianity and higher morality have held sway. Never has there been a time [since the Fall] when these “desires of the flesh” have been absent or quiet – even when harshly and severely punished people have been compelled to find dark places to fulfill their lusts. What we have experienced in Europe and America over the past few decades has been the social and political advancement of this cause of the unbelieving and fleshly minded – so that what was once forced into the darkness is now out in the light of day, and legal. About all that remains opposed to it are – Christians, at least those Christians who still hear and heed and affirm the goodness of “the desires of the Spirit.” The moral secular philosophers have fallen silent.
We have an additional problem, one that is more poignant and existential personally, and that is managing and dealing with this same conflict inwardly; for we have the same “desires of the flesh” raging within us. We should remember that greed, selfishness, pride, the desire for prerogative, power, pleasure, and privilege [all of which can more easily parade as virtues – ambition, progress, health, fulfillment] all preceded the “sexual revolution” and the more prevalent problems of drug and alcohol addictions. These “desires of the flesh,” along with the more blatant ones, continue to afflict and predominate the hearts of many Christians – and we often consider them quite normal, even good. Thus a great hypocrisy is created and nurtured within the church. However, those who succumb to the seemingly more benign temptations of the flesh become all the more vulnerable to the seemingly more dire, damaging, and damning “desires of the flesh.” In reality, it is all the same thing – dire, damaging, and damning “desires of the flesh” which are “against the Spirit.”
The Word of God calls all of us, all of whom are infected and afflicted by these “desires of the flesh” to repentance – to contrition, sorrow, and confession of our sins, with the promise that “if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [1 John 1:9] He pleads with us: “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” [Is. 1:18] In the assurance of His forgiveness and mercy we are renewed and strengthened with the Spirit of God – Who opposes the “desires of the flesh” and urges us to no longer “gratify” them. Since we who are Christians, believers in Jesus Christ and the gracious mercy, forgiveness, and love of God, are “temples” of the Holy Spirit [1 Cor. 6:19] we have this conflict and war within us – the Spirit against the flesh. The goal and purpose of this is “to keep you from doing the things you want to do,” that is, from gratifying the desires of the flesh. But this means denying ourselves, and understanding that we will not be able to “do the things you want to do.” This is hard and painful – to have to oppose natural impulses rather than doing all that we can to justify, legitimize, make legal, and facilitate them, as so many around us are doing.
This conflict is painful and difficult to maintain – we’d prefer to have some peace, to find a way to both fulfill our desires and to also feel good about ourselves. This cannot happen – and so we find ourselves continuously in repentance, continuing to depend solely upon God’s gracious forgiveness and mercy, and strengthened to continue our struggle against “the desires of the flesh.” This is what Paul means when he writes: “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” [Gal. 5:24] The result of this is the encouragement: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” [Gal. 5:25] So we must understand this conflict, and understand that it will continue on within us until the day we die and are received into the Lord’s kingdom. Though it is unpleasant, surely it is better than the “peaceful” alternative of not having the Spirit, and being pushed, shoved, thrust, abused, enslaved, and burning with only the desires of the flesh! May God mercifully strengthen us in this crucifying of the flesh and enable us to find great joy in walking by the Spirit!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, You know well the darkness of our sinful flesh, its power and clever deceitfulness, and how we are constantly hounded by desires that are contrary to Your Spirit. Keep us in constant repentance, and joy in Your gracious forgiveness and salvation, that we be strengthened and empowered in overcoming our sinful desires and walking by Your Spirit. Thus enable us to be sincere and genuine witnesses to the surpassing goodness of Your salvation and Your holiness. Preserve us in faith that we may always walk in step with Your Spirit. Amen.