Put on Jesus...

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” ~ Romans 13:14, NKJV

It's a mistake to focus either only or foremost on the latter half of this verse (making no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts). A believer's flesh is his or her "old man," or old nature, which is a slave to sin. Am I offended by a perceived wrong someone has done me? That's my flesh at work. Am I afraid to the point that I disobey God (which is the only thing that should really frighten me)? That's my flesh at work. Am I trampling over the hearts and needs of others in an effort to get what I want? That's my flesh at work, as well. Would I like to be able to make no provision for my flesh (don't feed it, don't give it room or opportunity to work), fulfilling God's purposes instead of my old man's? Yes. Do I? No, not really. When it comes to those fleshly desires that challenge my commitment to obey God, I don't have a lot willpower to overcome them. That's why it's deadly to focus only on the latter half of the verse above. If I try, if anyone tries, to overcome their flesh in their own strength, it will only end in defeat and discouragement. Our human efforts may in fact only sink us deeper into bondage. Instead of release, we find only guilt, condemnation, and fear. This is not what God has for us! He tells us first to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ," because unless it is Christ doing the fighting, our flesh is going to win the battle. Putting on Christ, however, is not a magical, one-time thing, or some fantastic effort of self-hypnosis. On the contrary. To put on Christ, you must become like Christ. The way to become like Christ is to spend time with Him through immersion in His word. As Paul wrote earlier in Romans 12, the truth renews one's mind and transforms him into someone heavily influenced by the Spirit of God. The more we come under the influence (control) of the Holy Spirit, the less provision is made for our flesh; and gradually, instead of the lusts of the flesh, we begin to produce the fruit of the Spirit: "...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23) Putting on Christ is the only way to victory!

by Rebecca