Battling the Flesh

Good evening everybody,

You know, some days are wonderful. You get things done, your kids obey, and nobody irritates you. Unfortunately, those days aren’t every day, are they? J

Well, how do you handle life’s little bumps? I am no expert!

But this is where the rubber meets the road.

There is a HUGE difference between knowing something and actually doing it. There is a certain amount of mercy for not knowing something, but if you do know it and don’t do it, can you expect grace? Jesus was frustrated by His disciples for their ‘puny’ faith. Because they knew what to do, or should have. And those pharisees. Woah! I mean, woe! J(unto them, get it?) they should have known a lot, but they were blinded by pride. In some ways, they had more faith than some of us… They set Jesus up with sick people on the Sabbath because they knew He would heal them and they could accuse Him. They just knew Jesus + sick = healed, every time.

How did Jesus handle them? We know He never got in the flesh. He wasn’t really nice to them, though. Why do you suppose? Maybe (this is just me thinking) because everyone else spoke so softly for fear of being kicked out of the church. Sometimes people need harsh talk if they are not correctible. Hebrew law allowed beating if talk wouldn’t work. Jesus was trying to get their attention in the hope of saving some. At least, that’s what I think.

Then there was the time the Lord came down the mountain after talking with Moses and Elijah. The nine disciples left at the bottom couldn’t cast out a demon, and Jesus said something like ‘how long must I put up with you and your unbelief?’ was that flesh talking? It couldn’t have been. I’m sure He was tempted but He never said anything that the Father didn’t say. So the disciples needed to hear it just that way.

Back to us… There are times when sweet talk won’t work, BUT if you are hearing loud voices in your head, that’s not the Lord. Do or say the opposite, or do and say nothing. The bible says let peace be your umpire. Like I said, I’m no expert. But let me encourage you by saying, ‘peace, baby!’

I love you all!!

 

healed by His stripes,

Nancy