Mortify the Flesh

Romans 13:14 says, “put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

Do not try to domesticate sin, to keep it as a pet on a leash carefully controlled to be enjoyed in moderation. Sin brings death; it destroys. You may think that a sin is small, that it hurts no one, that you can give yourself just a little leeway to indulge in a lie, in bitterness, in lust, in laziness, in irritation or anger. But the more you feed the flesh the stronger it gets. Very quickly, your little pet sin grows larger than you and gobbles you up, it utterly consumes you.

How do you avoid this? First, you must know that you can’t overcome sin in your own strength. “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Have faith that Jesus died for your sins and was raised so that you could have life and be conformed to His image. You must believe that despite how strong your sin seems, there is power in God through Christ to conquer and overcome it. Second, “make no provision for the flesh.” Give the flesh no opportunity and no excuses. This is a life and death battle. As we read in Romans 8:13, “If you life according to the flesh, you shall die. But if by the Spirit you mortify (put to death) the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.”