Today's Devotional

 

 July 14, 2009

            

Subject:  Controls Vs Control

Galatians 5:17 "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."

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In light of the recent discussion we had about law and grace, I thought I would go further and ensure that we all have an understanding how we can walk in the Spirit in areas of our lives where we are weak.

I'll use an illustration concerning my wife if that's okay with her.  She has been in Milwaukee since this past weekend and in the last two days, she has called me twice to say that she got stopped for speeding.  Last night when she called, she said, "I'm okay now though, I've got the cruise control on."  I responded, "well you need the cruise control since you seem to have no self-control when it comes to speeding."  

That's the way we need to deal with those areas of weakness in our lives.  It's like the guy who came to Christ and used to be an alcoholic.  He might have to stay away from bars and maybe not watch beer commercials.  In areas where we have no control, in order for us to walk in the Spirit, we need to establish controls to keep our flesh under submission.  

See sometimes to walk in the Spirit is as simple as controlling your desire to walk in the flesh.  If you drive like my wife, you need a cruise control.  If your weakness is eating, you need food control of some type and if your weakness is lusting, you need eye control or simple desire controls.  

This might seem like you are applying legal principles, "don't do this" or "don't do that" but it boils down to your desire to keep your flesh under submission.  I can "say" that I am spiritual so that I can watch what I want on TV, but if I sat down and watched scantily clad or naked women on TV, the flesh would not be under control so I have to choose, by the Spirit, to put some controls in my life.   

Today where you are not under control, you need controls.  That is the Spirit calling you to control yourself.  After all it is a fruit that is produced as we grow in Him.  Your self-control today will surely place controls on your actions and this is walking in the Spirit.  

Carlen