The Crazy Wild Flesh
S. O. A. P.
Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!
S-cripture:
Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
O-bservation:
One of the reasons St. Paul wrote this letter to the Romans was to deal with this challenge of the works of the flesh vs. the works of the Spirit. Please remember that the flesh is set upon gaining instant gratification in every situation. The Spirit, on the other hand has eternity in mind. Its longing is to please the Lord. But the pull of the flesh has caused great and weak men and women to lose everything in a moment. The flesh is so driven that you could call it, “The Crazy Wild Flesh.”
A-pplication:
To fully understand what we’re up against, Paul told us, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21a). The only power over such craziness is through the salvation of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit takes over, we become servants of the Spirit and begin to operate with the “Fruits of the Spirit.” Paul tells us again, “But The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23a). Those two potential operatives in one’s life are polar opposites, as you can tell just by reading them. It’s true that until we are fully yielded to the Spirit of God, we are subject to “The Crazy Wild Flesh.” But once we are given over to the Lord, we are no longer driven by, or subject to, the flesh. Instead, we have our minds set on what the Spirit desires. HALLELUJAH!!
P-rayer:
Dear Jesus,
I want what the Spirit desires for my life. In fact, once again, I choose that for my life today and every day! Amen
Comment (1)
Thanks Pastor, and once again, we are reminded that it’s a choice. We, as Christians, are called to walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh (I am saying this as a reminder to myself).