Devotional - 99-11-11 - Seeking God's Pleasure

Rom 8:5-7 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, ⁷ because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so. (NAS)

We all have at least one nature. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior have two. To some, that might seem like a bonus. But when we realize that the two conflict actively, it is obviously something to consider. The carnal or fleshly nature seeks its own comfort and ease. This nature prefers to ignore the future certainty of eternity and live solely for the moment. The carnal nature does not want to be bothered with God or with pain, neither its own nor that of others. The new nature given to us at the time of our salvation is far more mindful of the Holy Spirit which makes us aware of the eternal, spiritual nature of all our lives. The carnal nature seeks to be in control of its own destiny. The spirit nature understands that God is in control, and our understanding of control is an illusion at best - more a deception.

These two natures clamber and rage for control of the stage in our lives. They are diametrically opposed, complete and hostile opposites. They can not co-exist. There is no common ground. The one that gets the attention is the one that gets fed. The one that gets fed is the one that grows and stays healthy. The other shrivels and weakens as the convictions driven by that nature fade under the shadow of the stronger of the two. The one we submit ourselves to is the one that has the stage. We either submit ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, or we willfully refuse and impose our own rights and rules.

1 Cor 6:15-16 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? May it never be! (NAS)

There are two things that please God: when one sinner repents and turns back to the Lord (Luke 15:7) and when we walk according to the Spirit (Psalm 15:1-5). In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says that anyone who will open the door, he will sup with him, and he with Me. The word sup is literally tabernacle in the greek. He is literally saying He will pitch His tent and dwell with you.

Lord Jesus - We know that there can be no quarter and no reconciling the two natures, and one must be driven out in the end. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear the good things and the difficult things You have for us to learn and to grow. Those things will feed our spirit nature and cause our carnal nature to fade away. Amen.

Peace,
Mike

mhoskins@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org