Contrast

Written by cycleguy on July 9th, 2015

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Big dog/small dog

Good wolf/bad wolf

Jekyll/Hyde

Law/Grace

It doesn’t matter how it is described or illustrated, the reality is we are a people of contrasts. There is both a good and a bad living within us. Galatians calls it “the flesh vs the Spirit.”

Thing is: they are incompatible. No matter what illustration you use. Like oil and water. Like me and cinnamon. Or me and Parmesan cheese. Or me and coconut. (Can you tell what I don’t like?)

The flesh and the Spirit will always be battling for supremacy. The sad part is when we came to Christ we are told “we are new creations-the old has gone and the new has come.” Why then do we still battle the old man? John Calvin may have said it best:

The spiritual life will not be maintained without a struggle…Disobedience and rebellion against the Spirit of God pervade the whole nature of man.

He is saying what I am trying to say: try as we may, we cannot live this life on our own, or under our own power. “Greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world.” I John 4:4

By message Sunday is from Galatians 5:16-26. Talk about a passage of Scripture focused on contrasts! I don’t plan on spending a lot of time on the lusts of the flesh. Why draw attention to the negative? I do, however, plan to spend time talking about the contrast we all face/fight. All in preparation for an upcoming series on the Fruit of the Spirit.

I’d appreciate your prayers. Thanks. How is your conflict going? What would you use to describe it (see my first illustrations).

 

10 Comments so far ↓

  1. Daniel says:

    Lusts of the flesh? Not a problem for me … well at least not in the last 5 minutes … until you went and brought it up and got me to thinking …

    I will be praying for you in my morning devotionals.

  2. Jeff says:

    I think a lot of people can quite easily live this life live “on our own, or under our own power” Whether you adopt a supernatural belief or not it comes down to the choices you make. Morality is making right choices regardless of what you are told. Religion or supernatural belief is doing what you are told regardless of what is right.

    • cycleguy says:

      I agree there are times when people can get along “on their own.” But I’m not sure I agree that “a religion or supernatural belief is doing when you are told regardless of what is right.” Unless, of course, you are referring to me taking my “cue” from the Bible.

      • Jeff says:

        Slave owners took their cue from the Bible. An old testament masochistic God and a New Testament God that was OK with Slavery may not be the best place to look for clues to live ones life by. My point is you need to do what is right and not what the ancient religious scripts might lead you to believe.

        • cycleguy says:

          I’m not convinced man can always choose what is right without some guidance. It is one way “man does what is right in his own eyes.” Plus what keeps him/her from changing the rules in midstream to suit their fancy?

  3. Yes, it’s a continual battle, but I know God will win out in the end!
    Prayers for you, Bill!

  4. Zee says:

    I remember about cinnamon, but I didn’t know about parmesan. I’ll take whatever you won’t eat 😀 Haha.

    Regarding the Galatians and the contrasts there – it’s one of the times when it’s better not to look for “golden middle” 🙂

    • cycleguy says:

      YOU CAN HAVE IT!! I’ll have to remember that if you and Sam ever make it over here. 🙂 Oh, totally agree about the “golden middle.”