David Yarbrough
Romans 12:2 (CSB)
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
We have all witnessed the scene: a tired and frustrated parent pushing a grocery cart, while their child, seated in the cart, cries and grumbles. The child, unable to fully comprehend the situation and having limited communication skills, resorts to their natural instincts to express discomfort, hunger, or dissatisfaction. Similarly, the Israelites, having just left a life of slavery, found themselves struggling to adapt to a new way of life, one that required complete trust in and reliance on God's provision.
Picture this: the Israelites, fresh out of slavery in Egypt, they have witnessed God's incredible power, as He parted the Red Sea and destroyed the Egyptian army. You'd think they'd be grateful, right? Well, not exactly. The Israelites seem to have developed some serious amnesia. They forget the goodness of God and the miracles He has performed to save them from Egypt. Instead, they are focused on their rumbling tummies. They even go as far as wishing they were back in Egypt, under the dominion of Pharaoh who enslaved, tortured and even had their babies thrown in the Nile River. Why would anyone want to go back to that?
It's comical when you think about it. Here we have a nation of grown adults, acting like a bunch of hangry toddlers. They want their needs met, and they want them met now. This exemplifies how immature and fleshly they are. It's as if they're saying, "Forget the miraculous signs, the liberation, and God's promises. We want our meat and bread, and we want it now!"
Their complaints reveal a deep-seated resistance to sanctification, which is the process of growing in holiness and becoming more Christ-like. They are so focused on their immediate physical needs that they are blind to the bigger picture of God's goodness and plan for their lives.
The Apostle Peter reminds us in his first epistle: "Dear friends, don't be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you." (1 Peter 4:12). In other words, don't be shocked when life on the struggle bus gets rough. It's in these trials that we are refined and sanctified.
So, how do we keep ourselves from turning into spiritual babies, whining about our circumstances? Gratitude. We must be grinding out gratitude. I suggest you make a list of things you’re grateful for. And first thing every morning, remind yourself by thanking God in prayer for those things. It’s in the grind that grit is developed.
Blindfolds and Battles: Our Flesh vs. God's Goodness
Picture yourself wearing a blindfold. You can't see anything, and you're stumbling around, focusing only on what you can touch, feel, or hear. Now imagine that the blindfold represents our sinful nature, blocking us from seeing the goodness of God. Our flesh is like that blindfold, driving us to focus on our immediate wants, feelings of missing out, and the fear of being neglected. It's an epic battle we all deal with every day—our flesh versus God's goodness.
In Romans 8:12-13 (NLT), we read, "Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die...". Ouch! That stings, but it's essential to understand. This passage highlights the ongoing struggle we have with our flesh, which is hell-bent on self-destruction.
So, what's the solution? How do we remove the blindfold of our sinful nature and bask in the goodness of God? The key is to refuse to give in to our fleshly desires and choose to walk by the Spirit. Your flesh is opposed to you praying. It’s even opposed to you reading this devotional. So how is this even happening? God is stirring in your heart. He is at work in your life, and you’re choosing to join Him in His work.
When you align your will with God's Kingdom purpose, you will experience your true identity in Christ and fulfillment that cannot be found anywhere else. Trust in His plan for your life and allow Him to guide you towards your true calling.
Prayer:
Dear God, help us to trust in Your provision and not be consumed by our immediate physical needs. Give us the strength to resist our fleshly desires and instead walk in the Spirit, basking in Your goodness and plan for our lives. Develop gratitude and grit in our hearts as we face the wilderness of this world. Amen
Life Application Points:
Practice gratitude: Gratitude is an essential tool in overcoming the temptation to focus solely on our immediate physical needs. Make a habit of listing things you are grateful for, and thank God in prayer for those things.
Focus on God's goodness: Like the Israelites, we can be so focused on our immediate wants and needs that we forget about God's goodness and the bigger picture of His plan for our lives. Make a conscious effort to focus on God's goodness, and remember His past faithfulness in your life.
Choose to walk in the Spirit: The key to overcoming our fleshly desires is to choose to walk in the Spirit. This means aligning our will with God's Kingdom purpose and allowing Him to guide us towards our true calling.