Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:16-26

On any given day, we can do great things, or terrible things. We can be delightful at one moment, and destructive in the next instant. We are Christians, but we still retain our sinful nature. The Holy Spirit is in us, but sometimes we listen to our flesh. That is when we get into trouble.

Although we are new creatures in Christ, we still possess the tendency to sin. But we don't have to be governed by it, for we are united to Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. By obeying God's Word and yielding to the Spirit, we can be victorious over the flesh - the nature of the beast within each of us.

The Christian gains victory

by starving the old nature

and feeding the new.

Our Daily Bread - January 2, 2005