Make no provision

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. – Romans 13.14

For most of us ‘making provision for the flesh’ is the most natural thing. We think all the time about providing for the flesh. We focus on what we are going to eat, what we are going to drink, and what we are going to wear.’ These things consume us. Jesus tells us not to even worry or fret about that kind of provision – but these words don’t even address that. The words address a more wicked and insidious kind of provision for our flesh.

Paul is writing about making provision to fulfil the lusts of the flesh. This is such a powerful warning. It is one we ignore at our own peril. It is something we do without thinking all the time.

How do we do this?

We do it when we fill our minds with all the rubbish of the world. It is something that has always troubled man, but today the rubbish is more accessible than it has ever been. We are all just a click or two away from all the worst flesh feeding rubbish imaginable. Anything we want is there and is as close as the phones in our pockets.

And far too often we knowingly feed our flesh. Instead of starving it we allow it to get fat and sassy. And we wonder why we have such a battle.

We are not only to avoid sin – we are to avoid even making allowance for it.

We need to wake up folks – the night is far spent, the time is now.

It’s time to quit playing our stupid games and get serious.