Hope in this battle. . . .

Chinese martyr Watchman Nee described how being a Christian was like having two dogs fighting inside him. When asked which dog wins, he said, “The one I feed the most.” I wish it were that simple.

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Galatians 5:17)

It seems to me that feeding the right one with God's Word and obedience often increases the appetite of the other, even provokes the enemy to pollute the good food or snatch it from memory. These fighting dogs seldom take a nap.

Today’s reading spells it out. I am like all believers in God’s kingdom. I have two natures, two principles warring against one another continually. The flesh is dead in that it is separated from God and seeks ‘my way’ which is the Bible’s definition of sin.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

The living entity, far from being a dog, is the new nature given to me at salvation. It is still me, yet like a hand in a glove, it only functions when I am filled with the Holy Spirit. This is God’s work. He makes me righteous, and this nature always seeks righteousness.

This constant warfare between the flesh and the Spirit sometimes is marked by the flesh having its way resulting in sin. This sin must be confessed and turned from in repentance and true sorrow.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

This is the power of God to deliver me from the power of sin, even from its presence. Yet I cannot underestimate that old nature’s determination to have its way. The battle is constant unless I am trusting Christ alone for all my righteousness before God and am filled with the Spirit. For this, recognizing the flesh is vital.

This day’s devotional points to the psalm where the author describes what happened when he stumbled in envy of the prosperity of sinful people. Reading it helped me see some ways my flesh tries to rule my life...

Truly God is good. . . . to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled. . . . For I was envious of the prosperity of the wicked . . . .  They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. . . .   always at ease. . . . they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task. . . .  

However this changed when the psalmist took a good look at the will of God. . . .  

I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (Psalm 73:1–28)

PRAY: Lord, how true. Even if the brutish side of me seems to be winning, You are always with me, always lifting me up, always the strength of my heart. You promise to finish the work that You started in me, and that one day, when I see You face to face, I will be like You. No more growling dog or flesh determination, only peace and joy always and forever. Let not my heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and my hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 23:17–18)

That Dratted Green-eyed Monster!

Numbers 29; Psalm 73; Isaiah 21; 2 Peter 2

I’ve often spoke against the ambition common in our culture that seeks “bigger, better, more” as an impossible and foolish value system. It is not self-sustaining. Eventually it hits the wall and those who feel this is important for success must stop and reset. I’m also thinking this pandemic has been part of that reset, unwanted but important.

Yet there is something in the human heart that likes the idea of unlimited success and prosperity. Otherwise there would be no envy or covetousness concerning those more well off and the psalmist would never have written . . .

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Psalm 73:1–3)

Purity of heart seemed not enough. He saw the success of those without it and wanted that too. He also wanted their seemingly carefree lives, doing as they wished and not caring about God’s opinion. The psalmist wondered if keeping his life clean and enduring spiritual growth through trials was worth it. In verse 16, he says that these thoughts were wearing him out.

I get it. I know people who seem to be successful in what they do but without any concern for purity of heart before God. They are driven by selfish ambition and bigger, better, more. The worst is that when I am around them, I feel the tug of that value system. I’d like to be ‘somebody’ in my efforts rather than a person who is “poor in spirit” and useless without Christ.

The psalmist was helped when he entered the sanctuary of God and considered the eternal outcome of those he envied:

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. (Psalm 73:16–20)

He also realized that his attitude of envy toward these people was harmful to his relationship with God: “When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.” (Psalm 73:21–22)

Yet he realized the amazing difference between his life and that of those he envied:

Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (Psalm 73:23–28)

I’m thinking of those I envy, but not comforted to think about their demise. I’d rather see them become believers in Jesus Christ and live forever. Besides, I’m supposed to love my enemies, not be glad that they will perish.

Instead, God speaks to me about the problem I have with wanting to get into the bigger, better, more race and defeat them and how my attitude of competitiveness comes out by their boasting or their success. This must be confessed and forsaken. God will deal with them as He sees fit, but this is not about them but my sneaky desire to live for my glory. I cannot be a person who impresses my world and at the same time live for the glory of God.

Jesus tells me:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust . . . . You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43–45; 48)

APPLY: God is good to all and my spiritual growth is important to Him. I’m to love and pray for those I envy. They are not persecuting me; but Jesus is loving me. My flesh will fail at ‘perfection’ and my heart cannot muster up the desire to even try, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. As always, He can save me from myself.