Flesh and Spirit in Opposition

I heard some dog owners recently tell their dogs, "Stop barking." This was followed up by further commands such as "stop scratching." Some dog owners lengthen the list with orders to stop chasing. We often tell our own dogs to stop eating solar lights, water sprinkler heads, plants from the greenhouse and more. I have a tendency not to recognize that dogs will be dogs and engage in dog-like behavior. People are the ones created in the image of God and Christians have a new nature and should manifest a different standard of behavior. We don't have to yell at our children with the excuse, "I'm just tired." We don't have to engage in envy with the excuse that I wasn't really coveting those things. Paul states in Galatians 4:17, "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please." We need to rid ourselves of the illusion that personal freedom is the paramount priority. We need to subordinate our fleshly responses to the Spirit-controlled temperament. Believers need to stop making excuses, rationalizations and justifications for wrong behavior. "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." (Gal. 5:25)

Medical update: the good news we received today is that my 5th MRI showed no change from those previously - it was clear! We give thanks to God for His loving kindness and answer to our prayers.