Greetings!
Did you know flesh sets itself against the Spirit?
Flesh and Spirit cannot reach a compromise or form a peace treaty. The very presence of one eliminates the other. Like light and dark. Where it is dark, there is no light. Where it is light, there is no darkness. One cancels out the other.
For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please
. (Galatians 5:17) NASB
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
(Romans 8:5)
With this in mind, let me reiterate: what does not come from the Spirit comes from the flesh.
When I started processing this in my life, it was a surprise to me how much of my energy and effort came from flesh. I had evaluated my life as pretty spiritual. I prayed, studied, and memorized the Scripture, told the truth, tried to be kind . I have quite a long list of proofs that I was very, very spiritual. Really spiritual.
I only had a limited way to categorize
. Good or bad. Sin or not sin. It was a flesh-engaging, me-focused kind of activity. With all its spiritual overtones, still it put me at the center of my universe. It’s a way of living that might sound humble and noble, and it was certainly meant that way. Only much later could I look back and see that flesh thinks only flesh can straighten flesh out, so flesh had better be vigilant.
Then I learned a new way to see. I learned about flesh and Spirit. As we move through this journey, don’t worry that you will have to live a life of either constant examination and self-flagellation or self-congratulation.
You will be freed from that. You will be freed from trying
to measure up and from chasing your flesh around with a foam bat, trying to get it under control but having no effect. Those days are over.
Flimflam Flesh
Flesh makes big promises. It entices you into its realm where it makes claims and gives you its word of honor that the happiness, or peace, or fulfillment you are looking for are right there. Then it fizzles. When you have put all your effort and all your trust and confidence in your flesh — when you’ve worked it and kneaded it and tried to shape it up — that’s when it fails you.
One of two things is likely to happen
. You make peace with your flesh.
You say, “Nobody’s perfect and I’m not under law, I’m under grace. I’ve got
to quit judging myself and accept who I am.” Go, flesh, go! You see, this
has some truth in it. True, you are under grace. True, you need to stop
living in state of condemnation. But Spirit will never make a pact with
flesh to live in harmony, and your flesh’s promise of peace will not be kept.
The second is that you will conclude that you are a hopeless case. You
will live a pretend life to the best of your ability and never step out into the
light. You’ll find ways to hide and disguise the real you and live in fear of
exposure. You will live a life of self-loathing.
Flesh hawks a cheap happiness that circumvents crucifixion. But, like all cheap imitations, it breaks down quickly and doesn’t really do the job. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.
'Peace, peace,' but there is no peace. .
(Jeremiah 6:14)
Jennifer Kennedy Dean
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Jennifer Kennedy Dean 2019
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