Flesh & Spirit

Galatians 5:16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17  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. 18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19  Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21  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. 22  By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

In this passage Paul addresses the Greek philosophical concept that explains lives as consisting of body and spirit. His context suggests that God is only interested in our spiritual life and does not much care about the physical. Paul begs to differ and uses a juxtaposition of ‘flesh’ and ‘spirit’ to offer a new way of understanding our lives a followers of Jesus. The Greek word for flesh (sarx σάρξ ) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit (pneuma πνεῦμα). When assisted by the original Greek, the verses above read as follows:

I say then: Walk in the pneuma, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the sarx. 17 For the sarx lusts against the pneuma, and the pneuma against the sarx; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the pneuma, you are not under the law.

Paul encourages followers of Jesus not to be distracted by their own human sarx/σάρξ, but instead to submit their lives to the transformation of the Divine pneuma/πνεῦμα.  The desires of the flesh are therefore not to be feared, but are instead to be offered in service to God.

No one can claim to be “passionate for God” and exhibit arrogance, lust for power and cruelty. Instead a God-infused passion produces “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”.

For Thought

Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne

Frances R. Havergal, 1874

Third Sunday after Trinity

33 Christian Maturity

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 207.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.