Yesterday I was approaching an intersection when some nice lady stuck the front of her car out further than I thought was reasonable. There are different gifts for different situations. That would’ve been a good time for a mercy gift. I chose to exercise my teaching gift.

After I drove by her front bumper a little closer than necessary, I immediately said out loud to God, “Seriously!? I’m still doing this?” I remember my kids telling me many years ago that it’s not my job to help other drivers behave. And yet I just did it again! I thought I was done with that.

It got me thinking: my flesh is just as corrupt as it always has been. It’s not getting any better. Nothing I do, no disciplines I follow, are having the slightest effect. My selfishness is ready to pop up in all its fullness at any time.

I’m not improving.

On the other hand, I hardly ever do that anymore, and it used to be a common occurrence. So what’s the difference? Ah! I think I’m listening to my flesh less often.

As I continued my drive, I became more aware of my motivations. Am I in the flesh? Or in the Spirit? I tried switching back and forth. What do I want? How do I see things? Or, Jesus, thank you that you’re with me, in me. How do you feel? What do you see? I could feel my attitude, or maybe even my altitude, change from one to the other.

Oh, I want to live in the Spirit. Love, joy peace. Hallelujah! Not the flesh. Judgement, fear, control. Yuck!

The key verse from my previous post on this:

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. – Galatians 5:16-17