Romans 8:1-12
A superficial reading of this passage can lead you to the conclusion that flesh is evil. Take a look at verse 3b: And so he condemned sin in the flesh... or verse 6: the mind governed by the flesh is death... or verse 8: Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
OK, we get it: say no to the desires of the flesh, which lead us down the path of sexual sin, gluttony, and the like. But God designed us for earthly bodies, at least for the first part of our journey. Genesis 7:2 says it well:
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
and in I Corinthians 6:19, Paul says it this way:
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
God has charged us to care for our bodies. Yes, ultimately we will exchange these earthly vessels for heavenly, eternal ones, but in the meantime, here on earth, this is his plan for us.
So let's go back to our passage for today. How do we reconcile the desires of the flesh with God's will for our lives? God's creation is good.
31 And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good (Genesis 1:31)
It is a wonderful thing to be a living, breathing person! God designed us this way. The danger comes when we elevate the flesh over the spirit. And that is a daily struggle. Paul fervently reminds us that we are God's children: "Therefore, there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1)"
As always, it is a balancing act: choosing to walk in the Spirit, and to say no to the flesh when it leads you down a destructive path. Rejoice in the body God has given you. Take care of it! And thank God for the gift to come of eternal life in Him.
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