For those who live according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8 HCSB
I lived many years of my life thinking I could satisfy the desires of my flesh and please God. Those two things are so far apart. Looking back now, I realize how crazy that was to think that I could possibly do that. Anyway, it took me years of wondering why I was so miserable. Okay, so I never claimed to be the sharpest tool in the shed.
Our scripture passage today quite simply tells us that we must choose whether we intend to walk in the flesh or in the Spirit because we can’t do both. If we live this self-centered existence where we are trying to use all types of external things to make us happy, we are setting ourselves up for failure. If we think that we can live according to our circumstances and not spend our life on an emotional roller coaster, we are kidding ourselves.
When we live according to the flesh, we attempt to make ourselves happy by catering to our flesh. Our flesh wants us to do things like sleep in on Sunday and miss church. Our flesh tells us that it is okay to lie if we have done something that we should not have done. Our flesh tells us that sex outside of marriage is okay. Our flesh tells us that being mean to someone who “deserves it” is okay. Our flesh will get us in a whole lot of trouble if we listen to it. Not only does our flesh tell us that our sin is okay, but it helps us to justify it. We skip church and think God understands because He knows how tired we are or that this is our only day to catch up on our social media or our tv watching. We lie and our flesh tells us its okay because we are only lying to keep someone from getting upset. We have sex outside of marriage because God knows how we have been hurt in past relationships and He understands that we love this person we are just afraid of that really big commitment. The flesh tells us all kinds of crazy things to convince us that what we are doing is okay. Now let me warn you, when you have gotten to a point where you justify your sin and think that God is okay with it, you have stepped into a danger zone. I have been there, done that , and got the t-shirt. You are walking in a field of land mines.
But there is a way out, run to God. Draw near to Him and enter into a close relationship with Him. Believe in Him, confess your sin and ask Him to forgive you. Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit. When you are filled with God’s Holy Spirit, your eyes are opened and you are given wisdom and discernment. God convicts your heart when you do wrong and you live by His Spirit and by His Word. He helps you to understand right from wrong. Now if you are like I was when I had this great revelation in my life, this is scary. You see, God pointed out my sin and told me what I would have to do to get myself straight. I didn’t see how this could work, but God did. God handled everything. All I had to do was stay true to Him. I had to commit myself to Him and He took care of everything else. (Matthew 6:33).
If you are trying to please your flesh and please God, then you are bringing on a slow agonizing death my friend. Our scripture passage tells us that the mind-set of the flesh is death. I can testify to that. It tells us that the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. I can testify to that as well.
In closing let me say this, I have lived a life where I satisfied my flesh. That didn’t go so well. It usually would be tremendous highs followed by devastating lows. But I finally wrapped my think head around this living by the Spirit thing. Thank God that I did. This is the way to go. I have learned that when I live in the Spirit, I live in God’s protection (Psalm 91). I live in the awesome plan that God has for me (Jeremiah 29:11). When I live my life loving God with all my heart and doing what He has called me to do, then I live knowing that He works all things out for my good (Romans 8:28). So when bad times come my way, I know that God will keep me safe in the eye of the storm.
If you think that you are going to be able to satisfy the Spirit and the flesh, know this my friend, it’s never going to work. So choose to satisfy the Spirit, because when we make God happy, he makes us happy.
Have a great day!