Struggles
I don't like it.
Living for God is a constant struggle because there is a war that exists between the spirit and the flesh. In Matthew 26:41, it says, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." And in Galatians 5:16 it says, "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." So what is the difference between the flesh and the spirit? I'm glad you ask. Well, when we get into a relationship with God, the choices and decisions we make are no longer based on what we think or feel. Rather, it is God's Spirit moving in us and convicting us of things that either please or displease Him. The flesh is really focused on self--what pleases me...because it's all about me, me, me.
Now, as I go through my daily routine and something occurs that gets me into this war between my flesh and spirit, I need to choose whether or not I go with what makes me feel good and satisfies my selfish desires. I want to please God, but then I really want to do things my way. You see, I can't have it both ways. It's either one or the other. The first main half of Matthew 6:24 states, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other." We cannot serve two masters. Both ourselves and God cannot sit on the throne of our lives at the same time.
Sometimes we think that we can share the throne (of our lives) with God. This looks a little something like this:
You're driving to school, blasting Christian music, praising God...when all of a sudden some wreckless driver cuts in front of you, nearly getting you into an accident. You honk your horn, not once, but three times. You throw your hands in the air making all sorts of unfriendly gestures, all while shouting some pretty nasty stuff through your car window.
So let me ask you, how are you and God both sitting on this throne (or driver seat, to put it in context) of your life? God is definitely not in control when you reacted the way you did. If God was the one who took full reigns, our reaction would have been a lot different. To live a life that pleases God is second nature. It means it takes a lot of discerning before we respond based on our initial impulse.
You see now where the struggles come in. It is so hard to do, but it is also one of the best things that could happen because it means that our love for God supersedes our desire to be so self-centered.
Living for God is a constant struggle because there is a war that exists between the spirit and the flesh. In Matthew 26:41, it says, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." And in Galatians 5:16 it says, "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." So what is the difference between the flesh and the spirit? I'm glad you ask. Well, when we get into a relationship with God, the choices and decisions we make are no longer based on what we think or feel. Rather, it is God's Spirit moving in us and convicting us of things that either please or displease Him. The flesh is really focused on self--what pleases me...because it's all about me, me, me.
Now, as I go through my daily routine and something occurs that gets me into this war between my flesh and spirit, I need to choose whether or not I go with what makes me feel good and satisfies my selfish desires. I want to please God, but then I really want to do things my way. You see, I can't have it both ways. It's either one or the other. The first main half of Matthew 6:24 states, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other." We cannot serve two masters. Both ourselves and God cannot sit on the throne of our lives at the same time.
Sometimes we think that we can share the throne (of our lives) with God. This looks a little something like this:
You're driving to school, blasting Christian music, praising God...when all of a sudden some wreckless driver cuts in front of you, nearly getting you into an accident. You honk your horn, not once, but three times. You throw your hands in the air making all sorts of unfriendly gestures, all while shouting some pretty nasty stuff through your car window.
So let me ask you, how are you and God both sitting on this throne (or driver seat, to put it in context) of your life? God is definitely not in control when you reacted the way you did. If God was the one who took full reigns, our reaction would have been a lot different. To live a life that pleases God is second nature. It means it takes a lot of discerning before we respond based on our initial impulse.
You see now where the struggles come in. It is so hard to do, but it is also one of the best things that could happen because it means that our love for God supersedes our desire to be so self-centered.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." -James 1:2-4
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