The War Within

The biggest problem I have with today’s society is threefold: me, myself, and I. I am and have been wrapped up with trying to live a “normal” life that I constantly forget who I am – who my Father is. I am the son of a king trying to live in a kingdom that I do not belong to. I am a stranger here, a pilgrim. I am wandering thru and my purpose on this earth is to tell others about the king and what a glorious kingdom there will someday be. We are to be an example, as representatives of the Father, to point others to the path of the King.

Look at 1 Peter 2:11-12 : “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul:”

“Having you conversation (lifestyle) honest among the Gentiles: (those not saved) that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

In other words, we should not be (notice I didn’t say we are) participating in worldy activities that are a contradiction to the Holy Spirit that lives within us. We should be living in such a fashion that people are seeing that Christ lives in us even when they are talking smack about us. Look at all the abuse that was getting thrown at Christ when he was on earth. His own people turned against him and eventually were the ones that sent him to be crucified.

Chasing a little rabbit here: don’t condemn the Jewish people for doing that. We (Gentiles), took him and did the actual deed! In other words, we all crucified Christ!

As an introvert I would like to be able to talk to people about Christ which doesn’t come easily. That is a big reason for the startup of this blog. I can do on paper what doesn’t fall out of my mouth – and unlike with what falls out of my mouth I can correct it!

I am going to quote Paul now, because anytime I feel like all my insides are in turmoil with the world and the flesh, I go to Romans where I find that even the great apostle Paul had the same problems that I wrestle with. Paul is upset with himself because as a Christian, he winds up doing the very things that he sometimes has been preaching to others about.

Romans 7:15-25:

“For that which I do I allow not; for what I would, that I do not; but what I hate, that I do.”

“If the I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.” “Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”

“For the good that I would I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do.”

“Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”

“I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:”
“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my

mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”

“O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

My prayer: Father, help me in this battle with my flesh to let you have first place in my mind and my thoughts! Help me, Lord, to conquer this flesh!

AE

and continuing…

Do you ever wake up in the morning, and plan out how you will do really dumb things all day, and waste all your time, and accomplish nothing?  Yeah, me neither.  Why is it so easy to be lazy?  Why is it so hard to do right?  Why is it so easy to turn on the TV, yet so hard to pick up our Bibles?  Why don’t children just naturally behave?  Why do we have to spend so much of our days training them in good character?  Why can’t life just be easy?  

            We live in a fallen world, and if you haven’t noticed yet we are all fighting this fleshly battle day in and day out.  This life is going to be hard.  Everything worth having is worth fighting for, and worth working for.  If you want a strong healthy body, you can’t have it by eating cake and ice cream for breakfast.  If you want a loving family you aren’t going to get it by neglecting them.  If you want a good job, you sure better work for it. No one is handing those out to lazy people. If you want a good education, you should probably pick up a book or two, and freedom doesn’t come without fighting for it.

            If we want a relationship with our Saviour we won’t get it by going to church once or twice a week.  We have to walk with him daily.  Pray without ceasing.  Pour over his word, and have hearts that desire him.  It’s not going to be easy.  This world is pulling us in all directions trying its very best to distract us, confuse us, and purposely trying to thwart us in every way.   

            Do you ever sit down at the end of a long day and try to read your Bible and pray? You start to feel that drowsy relaxed feeling wash over you, drift off to sleep, and wake up to realize you spent no time at all studying scripture.  That’s normal.  That’s the flesh.  It’s how it is going to be.  You have to decide if you think a relationship with the God of heaven is worth fighting your flesh.  Find a time when you are alert to read God’s word, and pray.  

            I have to fight my flesh daily.  I have terrible allergies and acid reflux.  I know that eating certain foods will make me feel terrible long term.  I have to wake up each day and decide if it’s worth the cost to feel well, or if I’d rather trade off feeling well for a momentary pleasure.  Sin is exactly like that.  It’s just a momentary pleasure that will have a terrible impact on our lives.            

In 1 Corinthians, Paul says, “I die daily.”  We have to wake up every single day, and give our very lives to Christ.   Living for Jesus doesn’t happen by accident.  It’s purposeful.  Anything worth having is.  Do hard things. 

GA