Day 19

This verse literally shouted out at me when I read it.

¹⁴Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

- Romans 13:14

Mm, it shouted at me in the silence. I was left stunned for a few moments at the simplicity of God’s instruction. Do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Do not think.

That sounds rather simplistic doesn’t it? How many times have you actually thought more about something after someone told you not to think about it the first place?

Do not think about Krispy Kreme Donuts.

.

.

See, I proved my point.

But then, I realised that God didn’t say, “Do not think about the desires of your sinful nature.” If that were the case, it’d be much more difficult wouldn’t it. Now I don’t plan on ever attempting meditation to rid myself of all desires in my lifetime, but I do know that just not having flirting thoughts of my sinful nature is already a darn hard thing to do.

What God’s really saying about the whole deal is this. “Do not think about how to gratify the desires of your sinful nature.” Now that’s a whole new ballgame.

It means things like:

• Not scheming ways in your head about how to get even with someone
• Not fantasizing over a lustful thought
• Not brooding and feeding thoughts of jealousy and hate
• Not rationalizing our sin

The list could go on. But God’s instruction is so clear on this. Don’t feed the sinful nature. Whatever you feed grows so grow the right things.

~ by lysaer on March 3, 2009.