Dear ones, let these words be a liberation for us: WE ARE RESISTED!  The Scripture says we are, but we do forget and overlook that so commonly!  We are not just lazy and selfish and reluctant toward God.  Oh, we can be, and our flesh will ever be just that, but there is more to the story.

What a tremendous freedom we will experience when we no longer expect our flesh, our mortal mind and passions, to do right toward God … to love Him!  Romans 8:7 says,

“… the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  (Romans 8: 7, 8)  What enormous relief this ought to be to us.  Lazy, selfish, reluctant toward God, resisting every happy movement in the direction of His love and Nearness, our flesh isn’t just angry with God or sullen toward Him.  No, the flesh IS enmity against God.  That strong word is used as a noun in a strong sentence, and it is the sentence of death to our flesh.  As the Apostle Paul wrote,

“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of 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.  … (Romans 7:24, 25)

Thank God for Romans, chapter 8!  It is the Emancipation Proclamation for the monastic soul and for all who seek new life in Christ Jesus.  Our very flesh, our minds and thoughts, resist us at ever turn.  The enemy of souls fans the flames of our distraction and doubt and despair.  We do begin to THINK that we will never be able to love God or return His love and to THINK that we cannot ever live out this new life of purity, humility, and holiness.

Let us say with Paul this day, “Thanks be to God!”  We do not have to come up against our resistant flesh or our carnal minds.  We don’t have to joust with them or put our dukes up.  Ours is a spiritual battle, dear ones, and we cannot lose if we will fight.

Truly, ” … the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”  (Romans 8:2)  We have absolutely not one obligation toward our carnal lives remaining.  Our bodies we must feed and take to bed and to rest, but we are alive in our Spirits now.  The straw of the flesh will never be turned to gold, never mind the fairy tale.  A key turned in the lock, and we have been escorted out of that tower and into the chamber of the King.  He doesn’t need straw gold.  He owns the mountains, the mines, the straw and the little man who comes and offers to help us at the price of our firstborn.

Let us take a sudden turning, an important detour.  Remember the suggested list of Lenten observations?  What would you REALLY like to give up … or forsake … for Lent?  Make it something you might like to forsake forever if you wish.  It is valid and good to fast for a season, but let it be toward the Lord and toward a loving purpose.  Never mind your flesh, your mortal nature apart from Jesus Christ … remember, it is enmity with everything you will ever want to have or do or be in Christ.  Follow your spirit, where the Holy Spirit leads.    There, in that cloistered place, we want more of the joys and the peace and the triumphs of God and His Kingdom, and our sniveling flesh cannot keep us from it!  What would you give or give up for the sake of the Nearness of the Lord … the mind of the Spirit already knows and in Him, you shall have the desire of your heart.

No More a Debtor

Photo by Andreas Cruz