October 5

Oct 5 - Today from Proverbs 5 we look at verse 20
"Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?"

Do you know why I think we as Christians get into so much trouble? I don't think we ask ourselves enough good questions - and then give honest answers to them. The Teacher asks two good questions of his disciples in this proverb.
"Why entertain an act on infidelity?"
"Why risk reputation, integrity, and all of the life-long benefits of such assets for an immoral act?"
The disciple can really give only one honest answer to both - "Self-gratification."
When the flesh is in control, it can rationalize that it is worth the risk to satisfy the urgent sensual need - whatever it may be. The size of consequence diminishes in the overwhelming need of the moment. "I just couldn't help myself!" We are not supposed to help self, we are to die to self. It was the curse of Esau (Gen. 25:29-34). His sensual need was hunger. The importance of his birthright diminished in the overwhelming craving of his appetite. He never stopped to ask himself good questions. He gave in to the flesh and traded his birthright for a meal. He was not a victim of his hunger - God held him responsible for his action.
We can hardly believe that Esau would actually trade his birthright for a meal - yet Christians are violating this principle every day. The birthright was an unseen abstract notion. The meal was a tangible object of desire. Tangible objects are identified through our senses - thus we use the term flesh. Things of the kingdom are identified in our spirit. When the flesh is in control, the things of the spirit diminish in the perception of reality. When the spirit is in control, the things of the flesh diminish in reality. Reality based on what is seen is only temporary. Reality based on Truth is eternal. Paul clearly articulates this concept in 2 Cor. 4:18 where he says - "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Again, Paul writes in Galatians 5:16, 17 - "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." Then Paul goes on to say that the physical act of circumcision was a sign of putting off the flesh. The physical act has no spiritual significance - as believers we are to circumcise our hearts. Thus, every Christian is to live in the reality of being spiritually circumcised - men and women alike:
"In (Christ) you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the (flesh), not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your (flesh), God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sin. . . nailing it to the cross." (Col. 2:11-15).
This is eternal reality because it is based on Truth. We can live in that reality if we will learn to ask ourselves good questions. When facing a decision that may contain a temptation, the question should not be "Why shouldn't I do this?" That question is formulated to produce an argumentative defense. The better question is "Why should I do this?" This question challenges us to set forth a reasonable answer. . . an honest answer. If we are truly honest, we will quickly come to the conclusion whether the situation involves a temptation of the flesh or not. If it does, we are to appropriate that which Christ has already provided in the cross, and circumcise the flesh - cutting it away. It's called walking in the spirit - or living by faith. It is the continual act of appropriating that which was secured for us in Christ.
When Christ's Church re-learns this great spiritual truth, we will once again be discernible from the world in which we live.