I Don't Like You

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.  Romans 8:5-11

I don’t like God sometimes.  I say this much like I say it to my wife Loretta.  You know when you have that argument about a decision with your significant other and make a choice your way only to find out later that they were right all along, you just look with that face of resignation, and your significant other just smiles with that grin saying, “I told you so.”  The only thing left to say after that is, “I don’t like you.”  For me, it is a subtle way of admitting to my wife I should have trusted her.  Much in the same way, God will literally point out something in my life that I either took too lightly or gave into principally, and then show the error of my ways.  I love Him for that because in spite of that He is still shows me grace, but that does not mean that I like Him.  Fortunately like my wife, He understands . . . I think  J

God wants all of us to live a life resisting the temptations of the flesh so that the Holy Spirit that dwells within us will grow.  Today’s verses from Romans signify the beginning of what many pastors feel is one of the most important chapters in the Bible; Romans 8.  Paul was pointing out a fundamental truth of a growing walk of faith.  It is one that does not give in to what the flesh wants, and has discipline to know that the mind and heart must focus on what is pleasing to God and not governed by our often shallow and short sighted wants.  While this seems simple enough, we often fail to realize when it is being tested.  Sometimes, it can be as simple as lending a hand to a friend in need.  Other times, it could be as complex as knowing when a relationship with a member of the opposite sex has grown too cozy.  There could be a situation where you’re challenged to do God’s work when it is uncomfortable for you, and in another, peer pressure will push you saying ‘everyone does it at least once.’  No matter how simple or complex the situation, our goal is to have our mind ‘governed by the Spirit’ such that we will always make good decisions or as my granddaughter would say, “Make better choices.”  Should we fail, we must be repentant but not discouraged.  Instead, read God’s word, and find ways so that you can be successful the next time.

God never said staying on course was easy.  Jesus said, “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13b)   We all find our way at some point heading toward that gate of destruction.  I personally have gone through that gate a couple of times.  However through God’s grace and sometimes discipline, we are shown a better path.  If we believe in Him and keep walking by faith, the Spirit of Christ will grow within us such that we always will find our way to the righteous path again.  What subtle hints is God giving you of a wrong path?  How can you let the Spirit of Christ guide your decisions more?  My prayer is that we continue to love God and Christ within us knowing that sometimes, we won’t like Him.  Amen.