Galatians 5:17
“For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want.”
That last part of the verse explains much, "to keep you from doing what you want". We've been given a new heart when we're born again that craves the things of God (Ezekiel 36:26). This amazing. We don't have to perform all sorts of new activities that we don't want to do. Our new desires are those in scripture. Today's topic complicates it some.
While we now want to do the things of God, our fleshly nature is still with us. It wants different things. This was the nature that's been with us our entire lives. It has it's own aims. They aren't consistent with our new desires.
We might feel threatened by any number of things. That's our old nature. It wants to defend what's ours which usually puts us in opposition to others. God has a different plan. While it's fine to work for our betterment, the attitude of opposition is wrong. He wants us to love others, not to despise them. These times are the laboratory in which He works patience, self denial and love in us. When we sense resentment we offer it up to God and ask Him for His love in this matter. Just the asking is a miracle. We want something different.
Paul addresses this same topic in Romans 7:22-24, "For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person, but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" This passage gives much more explanation. It's more than "keeping us from doing what we want", but I am "a prisoner of the law of sin".
Paul's frustration is obvious. There is a battle of wills. Paul gives an answer to his plea, "who will set me free?" in verse 25, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin." It's Jesus. He gives an surprising explanation. Both will be present as long as we are alive on earth. He's not upset or disappointed with us. We have to realize that we will have to deal with a noncompliant part of us.
This insight takes much pressure off us. We feel guilt about a gravitational pull towards the flesh. He understands completely and sympathizes with us. We aren't to be surprised by opposite desires. We aren't to feed them, but to have them isn't wrong. It's like someone who loves to run, but doesn't have the perfect physique for it. He can still run, it just won't be real efficient of fast. He has to adjust his expectations. He can see others that are sleek and fast. He needs to realized that will never be him. That's ok. Indulge in the love of running.
This reality makes us eagerly await the day we will be free from this dichotomy. Paul says it this way in Romans 8:23, "And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption assons and daughters, the redemption of our body." The battle of the Spirit verses the flesh makes us groan. While the guilt is gone, we are still frustrated by the lack of efficiency. That makes us yearn for the day we'll be free and can love God freely.
Lord, thank You for giving us the new heart that wants You and Your ways. Thank You for today's wisdom that we've got these obstructions, but that You know this and are for us. We don't have to feel guilty or disappointed. We'll groan and yearn for Your coming. Thank You Lord.