“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” (1 Peter 2:11, ESV)
Passions of the flesh are waging war against your soul. These are powerful words. Do not take them lightly.
Every day there are temptations around us to divert our heart and desires away from the Lord. Our minds are bombarded with false advertising. The lure is strong. There is nothing short of a war going on for your time, attention, and affection. Most are oblivious to their peril.
It is lusting after another person, thinking they will make all your dreams come true. It is longing for the next high, thinking it will wash away all your problems. It is desiring that shiny new object, thinking it will be the answer in your life. There is no end to the flirtations to draw us away from Christ.
The passions of the flesh are sexual and material. They are sensual and addictive. But all of them are toxic. The more we indulge, the further we are pulled away from the Lord.
There are times when we are strong in faith and committed to Jesus. We are certain that nothing will lead us astray. But Satan knows our weaknesses. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Satan is patient and waits until we let our guard down. The more we think we are impervious to temptation, the more susceptible we are to fall. He is calculated and strikes when we least expect it.
But the Holy Spirit is vigilant. He keeps watch. He is ready. Even if we should stumble, he will pick us up. Our salvation is not about our fortitude against the desires of the flesh. They conquer us every day. But Jesus has conquered all of them. We may battle today. We may even lose a battle. We may lose multiple battles. But rest assured, the ultimate victory is already won.
Reflection
- What is the passion of the flesh you most struggle?
- How do you keep your mind, heart, and attention focused on Christ when lured by lesser things?
Prayer
Lord, I am so fickle. My allegiance to you is so sporadic. I am so easily led astray by lesser things. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that my life, my aim, my affections, and my desires would be for nothing but you. Amen.
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