The Flesh

My husband and I recently vacationed in Northern Wisconsin. As we grow older, we prefer not to drive so we like to travel to places where we can take the train. It's such a relaxing and peaceful way to travel. I also like to ride the train because I can have time to read and commune with the Lord.

In addition to taking my bible, I also took with me With Christ in the Killing Fields by Jimmy Rim. I've had the book in my home for a couple of years to be quite honest, but never took the time to read it. I really felt drawn to this book. The book is somewhat of an autobiography and tells the story of his life as a Missionary in Cambodia. His story is one of great faith and passion for Christ and I was truly inspired.

As the train passed by miles of farmland in Wisconsin, I read about Jimmy Rim risking life and limb to save Refugees from the Khmer Rouge along Thailand's border. Tears welled up in my eyes as he traveled through the night through enemy territory to go and rescue a little girl in dire need. Many warned him not to go, but he felt the Lord telling him that he had to go anyway, and so he did. Oh how wonderful it was when the little girl returned to her village to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. She herself became a little missionary.

After reading the last paragraph, I closed the book and then closed my eyes. I just wanted to talk to the Lord about me. Here Jimmy Rim risked all that he had. He was willing to die for Christ. What about me? What had I done or sacrificed for Christ? How was my life counting? Oh how I cried, "Lord use me." Many times we can fool others, and sometimes we can even fool ourselves, but we can never fool God. I felt Him speaking something like this to my Spirit, "Now come on Dee, you know you are not willing to go to a war torn country and serve as a Missionary. You're not willing to dodge bullets to pull people out of danger, sleep on the ground with filth and death all around you, or endure the hardship and persecution that this man endured."

Then with that loving, nurturing side of Him, He (God) proceeded to tell me that he wasn't asking me to do these things. You see He is not asking me to be another Jimmy Rim, He just wants me to be me. He only wants me to do what He has called me to do - nothing more, nothing less. I have my own cross to bear, my own persecution to face, and He has equipped me for the battle that I will endure.

The last words that the Lord said to me that day on the train really pierced my heart. He said "Dee, I've given you two assignments to do, and you've fought me on both." My heart was broken because I saw the truth so clearly and it was not pretty.

Isn't it something how once you know your purpose the flesh begins to war against your completing that purpose? Many of us know that the enemy will war against us, trying to get us to abort our purpose, but how many of us look at our own flesh as an enemy? Well I'm here to tell you that it can be and it is a formidable opponent!

We all know the story of Jonah, right. God gives him an assignment to go to Nineveh to deliver a message and because of his flesh he heads in the opposite direction toward Tarshish. (Jonah 1) At the time, Jonah would have gone anywhere but to Nineveh because the flesh was rebelling and attempting to keep Jonah from fulfilling the will of God.

Now back to my story. That day on the train I was so sincere when I asked God to use me. In that moment once again I'd allowed my flesh to set it's eyes upon something else. You see I fight with my flesh daily. It wants me to put my eyes upon anything except the task that God has laid before me. Simply put, it not only wants to give in to distractions, but if I don't watch it, it will literally seek after distractions.

I pray that this article speaks to you. I ask you to ask yourself a few simple questions? Are you doing all that God has asked you to do? If not, what or who is hindering you? Before you blame something, or somebody else - look in the mirror!

Helpful/Study Scriptures

So then, brethren, we are debtors, but not to the flesh (we are not obligated to our carnal nature), to live (a life ruled by the standards set up by the dictates) of the flesh. Romans 8:12 Amplified Bible

Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we (do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness) that cannot wither. Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. But (like a boxer) I buffet my body (handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships) and subdue it, …….. 1 Corinthians 9: 25-27 Amplified Bible

(That is) because the mind of the flesh (with its carnal thoughts and purposes) is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law indeed it cannot. Romans 8:7 Amplified Bible