Galatians 5:19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (NKJV)
Our flesh is our unruly human nature that is desperate to do whatever it wants and feels.
It desires rebellion and disobedience toward God and the things of God. Galatians 5:17: For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.(NKJV)
Yielding to the flesh and doing the works of the flesh leads to stumbling and causing others to stumble. If care is not taken, doing the works of the flesh can lead to hardness of heart, a separation from God and missing out on the kingdom of God.
So when the Bible says that we must “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts”, it is for our own benefit. (Romans 13:14)
PRAYER: Lord Jesus help me to deny my flesh and to walk in The Spirit so that I will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Help me to bear fruits of Your Spirit that I may look more and more like You. In Jesus name. Amen.