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The Struggle of the Flesh
In
Galatians 5, Paul uses the term "flesh" to
describe the part of our lives that stands
in opposition to God. The fruit of the
Spirit, or the evidence of Christ’s life
in us, includes love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-
control. The evidence of the flesh
includes: immorality, impurity,
sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities,
strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger,
disputes, dissension in our relationships,
factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing,
and things like these.
The
flesh is not so much tangible in nature as
it is revealed in our attitudes, desires,
and lifestyles. Never think that just
because you serve the Lord you won’t be
caught up in the trappings of the flesh. A
person can serve God, make a wonderful
public impression, and still be living in
the flesh.
The
central focus of the Spirit-filled life
must always be Jesus Christ, while the
primary focus of the flesh is
self–self-will, self-assertion, self-love,
self-indulgence, self-pity, self-reliance,
self-consciousness, self-righteousness,
and self-glorification.
However,
we do not have to serve the desires of the
flesh. As children of God, we have been
given the power to say no to our old way
of living and thinking. Ask the Lord to
reveal any evidences of the flesh in your
life. Be willing to allow Him to strip
away all that does not
glorify Him. |
