FLESH VERSUS SPIRIT

FLESH -- VERSUS – SPIRIT

Meditating on the writings of the Apostle Paul, concerning the flesh versus the Spirit, things above, … ; and thinking on the list recorded by the Apostle Peter about Christian Virtues … ; the Hebrews-writer comments about running the race … ; and dwelling in thought about six decades in this fight  – these contrasting thoughts about a carnal life versus a spiritual life begin to develop – their different traits and attributes, their opposite effects …

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 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 prevent you from doing what you would. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  (Galatians 5 RSV)

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  (Philippians 4 RSV)

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; 11 so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 1 RSV)

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  (Hebrews 12 RSV)

CONTRASTS BETWEEN THE “FLESH” AND THE “SPIRIT”

two lives, two paths, two results, two destinations …

1.       Entangling                   vs.          Elusive/slippery

2.       Physical                        vs.          Phantasmal

3.       Visceral                        vs.          Ethereal

4.       Immediate                  vs.          Ultimate/delayed

5.       Disappointing            vs.          Satisfying

6.       Intrusive                      vs.          Elusive

7.       Unavoidable              vs.          Evasive

8.       Common                     vs.          Rare

9.       Distracting                   vs.          Enlightening

10.   Confusing                    vs.          Clarifying

11.   Destructive                 vs.          Constructive

12.   Temporal                     vs.          Eternal

13.   Selfish                           vs.          Sacrificial

14.   Hurtful                          vs.          Helpful

15.   Taking                           vs.          Giving

16.   Deceptive                   vs.          Discerning

17.   Entrapping                  vs.          Freeing

18.   Sickening                     vs.          Healthful

19.   Alarming                      vs.          Calming

20.   Wrong                          vs.          Right

21.   Impulsive                    vs.          Deliberate

22.   Corrupting                  vs.          Purifying

23.   Weakening                 vs.          Strengthening

24.   Sapping                        vs.          Invigorating

25.   Stunting                       vs.          Perfecting

26.   Ugly                               vs.          Lovely

27.   Dishonoring                vs.          Honorable

28.   Shameful                     vs.          Virtuous

29.   Regrettable                vs.          Thankful

30.   Reprimanding            vs.          Praiseworthy

31.   Bad                                vs.          Good

32.   Nasty                            vs.          Pristine

33.   Besetting                     vs.          Propelling

34.   Burdening                   vs.          Encouraging

35.   Sub-human                vs.          Edenic

36.   Animal                          vs.          Angelic

37.   Earthly                          vs.          Heavenly

38.   Dissonance                 vs.          Harmony

39.   Anxiety                        vs.          Peace

40.   Cursing                         vs.          Rewarding

41.   Natural                         vs.          Supernatural

42.   Instinctive                   vs.          Rational

43.   Adulterated               vs.          Innocent

44.   Crippling                      vs.          Fulfilling

45.   Easy                               vs.          Difficult

46.   Numbing                     vs.          Painful

47.   Degenerating            vs.          Glorifying

48.   Accusing                      vs.          Justifying

49.   Poisoning                    vs.          Sanctifying

50.   Cursing                         vs.          Blessing

51.   Harmful                        vs.          Helpful

52.   Darkening                   vs.          Enlightening

53.   Suffocating                 vs.          Refreshing

54.   Consuming                 vs.          Enlarging

55.   Embarrassing             vs.          Encouraging

56.   Cowering                     vs.          Emboldening

57.   …

DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD

DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons?—

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor lose courage when you are punished by him.

6 For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time at their pleasure, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Our response to the discipline of the Lord is multi-fold:

1.       Acknowledge it. – it is not a mistake, a misfortune, an injustice.

2.       Accept it. – we can fight it; or we can submit and learn.

3.       Adapt from it. – we can learn, be molded, be transformed by it.

4.       Adore it.  – “count it all joy…”

5.       Ask for it! – “Lord, drive out the darkness within me…”

FATHER FORGIVE US

“Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing …” was the ardent petition, the merciful request, the incredible plea of the Son!  Whence, from what holy place, comes such?!  Who, indeed, is this man?!  As the centurion on that hill confessed, “surely, this is the Son of God!”

He told the “sons of thunder” that they did not know of what “spirit” they had!  (but, it was not the Holy Spirit of God!)  He chided the Sabbath-defenders for wanting to DESTROY life (indeed, the “Life”!) on their blessed Sabbath; but, he RESTORED life as He healed the cripple’s withered hand.  (Besides, the “Son of David” was far more righteous and sovereign that the “shewbread-eating” King David, whom they readily excused and before to whom they respectfully acquiesced.)  O, how so very ignorant they were!

To the angry, self-righteous, predatory mob, with the humiliated “trap bait”, the poor adulteress, He quietly remarked, “… he quietly remarked, “… he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone …”  And, then He patiently knelt, writing in the sand, (who know what?!)  waiting for the ignorant mob to come to their senses.  And, then to the quivering, sobbing lady on the ground, he gently, but firmly, and, oh so kindly, whispered, “… where are those who condemned you? … I condemn you not!  … go, and sin no more…”  “Who, who indeed, is this man?!”  She surely wondered as she stumbled away, glancing over her shoulder in wonder and gratitude!

With “sinners He ate, much to the confusion and consternation of those who “did not know”!  On one occasion, He graciously accepted the heart-broken homage, the forgiveness-hungry fealty, the accepted-one adoration, of the “what-sort-of” woman as Simon the Pharisee ignorantly sat in judgement on this “supposed prophet”!  Jesus pushed Simon to the edge to know the source of here love, that Simon somehow did not know.  He just did not get it!

David got it.  He wrote of knowing this blessed place – “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit..” (Ps.32)  Humbled, David found refuge there!  Saul of Tarsus got it.  He would forever remember the answer to his Damascus Road question, “…who are you, Lord?”  Ouch!  The Pharisee missed it; but, the publican knew it full well, as he pleaded “mercy”!

O, Jesus, I know that You are the Way, the Truth, the Life; and, I know that your name is the only name given that saves.  But, Lord have mercy on us!  Satan is such a liar.  We are so weak and stupid.  Darkness clouds the Light.  Open our eyes to see the ray of hope that you give us, so graciously.  So many of us have even distorted your sweet name into a rock-hurling, lightning-striking caricature.  Others of us have shoved you from the table that you prepared for us, and invited your enemies to head the table.  Forgive us!  We do not know what we do.  Maybe even Judas can find mercy?  Surely, You are “not willing that any should perish”?!  Will there be a tear in your eye when you, at last, command, “depart…”?  Forgive us – we know not what we do!

KISSES BLOWING IN THE WIND

KISSES BLOWING IN THE WIND

Somewhere out there is the end of this vast blue sea.  There is a limit; but, I’ll never see it.  It is beyond my scope of voyage.  “… your love never fails – it never gives up – it never runs out on me …” echoes in my ears as I listen to the waves crash on the beach below our balcony.

Below, many play in the sand, maybe wading out into the surf a short distance.  Children squeal with delight.  Mothers smile, or perhaps intently focus on the “what-ifs” of such vastness?

The waves roll in, one after another.  It is as if You are blowing kisses!  The breeze gently caresses my face.  The sea gulls are squawking their “amens”!  The dolphins join in, jumping in exultation.  A pelican flock soars by in silent honor formation.

Now, we must pack up and go home – each our different direction.  But, You are there, too!  (but, I will finish my coffee before I get up to go…)