A Broke Evangelist

November 17, 2024

Romans 8:5-8

Futility in the Flesh  

“5Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”

Sunday (today) wasn’t exactly my idea of a good time. I’m still adjusting to this new medication—or should I say "medications" (got a couple of prescriptions, including Ozempic)—or maybe I’m just wrestling with a champion-level cold, flu, or even COVID. The good news? My blood sugar is on the mend, so fingers crossed this side effect (or bug) is just a temporary visitor. 

But let’s talk about the real tragedy of my Sunday: my 49ers. They rolled over, played dead, and then gave up a touchdown with less than 12 seconds left to lose the game. Seriously, watching your team blow it like that makes you wonder why you even bothered. Those three hours suddenly feel like a waste of time. Of course, if they’d won, I’d be calling it a brilliant use of my Sunday. Funny how perspective works, isn’t it? 

Lately, I’ve been focusing on improving how I spend my time. Health challenges over the past couple of years have made efficiency a bit of a pipe dream. Mornings are a slow start—I sit on the edge of the bed, take a minute to clear my head, and then map out the day like a military strategist, figuring out how to get things done with low energy and strength. And let’s not even talk about the pain. Some mornings, I have to give myself a pep talk just to get moving. All those little pauses and calculations add up, and let me tell you, it’s frustrating. 

Still, I’m hopeful. The medical therapy I’m undergoing now feels like a step in the right direction. Less pain, more mobility, and better health are on the horizon, and that’s bound to improve my overall well-being. But here’s the kicker: as great as feeling better will be, it’s not the source of my joy. Joy doesn’t come from the destination; it comes from the journey. 

One thing I’ve realized, though, is that I need to work on being more concise when sharing my thoughts. I know I can get long-winded, and nobody has time to wade through all that. Plus, keeping things short and sweet will help me make better use of my own time. Here’s hoping I can pull it off! 

Now, as I work on that, let’s take a moment to dig into Romans 8:5-8.

Romans 8:5 – Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

The way I see this is that if I want to know whether I’m walking in the Spirit in the flesh, I have to ask myself where my mind is hanging out. Our minds are like the battleground where the Spirit and the flesh are constantly at war, each trying to take the lead. And to be clear, it’s not just the blatantly sinful people who get caught up in a fleshly mindset. Even well-meaning folks can fall into it. As an example, Peter had had the best intentions when he tried to convince Jesus to avoid the cross, but Jesus shut him down with some pretty tough words, when He said, “You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men!” (Matthew 16:23). That was quite a reality check.

Romans 8:6 - The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

What I’ve come to realize here is: “To be carnally minded is death.” When my thoughts are wrapped up in the flesh—whether it’s selfish desires, fears, or earthly distractions—it only leads to frustration, emptiness, and spiritual dead ends. But when I let the Spirit guide me, it’s like a breath of fresh air. There’s this undeniable sense of life and peace that fills me up.  So, I need to ask myself more often: where’s my mind hanging out these days? It’s a game-changer.

Romans 8:7 - The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 

The flesh is like a rebellious teenager—it does not want to submit, especially to God. Surrendering to Jesus? Forget it. Does it want to live out as it’s written: "Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" in Galatians 5:24? Nope, the flesh would rather fight than let that happen. And here’s something to remember: the law can’t help us in this struggle. It’s like trying to tame a wild horse by watching YouTube videos—completely useless.  Paul doesn’t just say the carnal mind is at odds with God, like they’re frenemies or something. No, he goes all in when he says that the carnal mind is enmity against God. It’s not just on the opposite team; it’s actively hostile. So, the flesh isn’t about to wave the white flag anytime soon. But the good news? God gives us the strength to win this battle when we lean on Him, not on our own efforts. And that makes all the difference.

Romans 8:8 - Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You could know the Bible backward and forward, treat people exactly like Jesus would (or at least try), and check off every box on the "Christian of the Year" scorecard—but if you’re doing it all in your own strength and refusing to acknowledge Jesus as Lord, it’s just not going to cut it. Isaiah puts it bluntly: "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags" without Him. Ouch. The law can’t save us, but it does serve as a helpful guide, pointing us toward God’s righteous path when we’re living by the Spirit. Think of it like road signs—they won’t get you to your destination, but they’ll definitely help you avoid a wrong turn. 

Unfortunately, there’s no shortage of Christian “influencers” these days preaching their own version of the gospel. They’re offering feel-good advice to hurting people but often leading them—and themselves—straight into a spiritual dead end. Obedience? That’s secondary to doing what feels good in the moment. The truth is, when we try to live according to our own gospel, we’re settling for a cheap imitation of the abundant life God has for us. Why settle for less when His best is right there waiting?

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – November 17, 2024

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