Those who live in the flesh

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. – Romans 8.5-8

For all of recorded history and probably beyond man has always tried to please God. Humanity has had many ideas about who He is or what kind of god they worshiped, but religion generally has had a goal of trying to satisfy whatever concept they had.

That’s where religions started – and that’s where they fail. No one who is in the flesh not please God. Everyone born is born in the flesh. No matter how hard man tries he is going to fail because God’s standard is perfection.

Part of religion is pleasing the flesh; it makes us feel like we are doing something. Pleasing the flesh does just that – temporarily. It is pleasurable for a season. It is gratifying for the moment. To be carnally minded is death.

But it can’t serve for eternity. It can never please God.

Our desire is to please the Spirit for in Him we have life. One way, the way of the flesh leads to eventual destruction. The other way, the way of the Spirit leads to freedom in Christ today and an eternity of hope and joy.