“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:14)
Something new caught my eye as I saw this verse again, which is one of the real blessings of the Word of God. “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23)
The Lord reveals more of Himself to us as we seek His face for His glory.
In this verse what I see newly revealed to me is that we know what the lusts of our flesh are, we are well aware of its desires, for we could not make provisions, preparations for it if we did not.
Provisions were once what settlers on the prairie garnered for themselves before they journeyed into the unknown, it is what was sold at the mercantile in town, in those days one would purchase all that was available and affordable from the store before going out either on a journey or heading back to their homestead many miles away. Provisions were thought out ahead of time in preparation for the need of them.
It is why when the Lord sent out the men to travel Israel and speak of Him and told them not to take anything extra, just what they were wearing is amazing. Walking in nothing but faith is what comes to mind. “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.” (Luke 10:17) This was their comment when they returned, not “We had need of absolutely nothing, even when we took no provisions.”
If you are addicted to pornography, you have provisions for that lust on your computer, saved in the favorites folder, or perhaps even with magazines hidden in your house. The provision for the lust of that part of your flesh. If it is chocolate, candy, cigarettes, those items are in a place where they are readily accessible to you, so that when that lust rears its ugly head you can quickly fulfill it. If it is drugs or alcohol, you know how to get to those items quickly when the flesh calls for them. The provisions for the lust of the flesh are well thought out in advance, they are contemplated, planned for, they are expected and so prepared for when they are desired.
And that is the keyword, if you will, desired, for we have turned this want, this lust, into a need when in all reality it is no more than a want, a desire of the flesh. “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1 Cor. 9:27)
There is a well-known saying that can be applied here, if you will accept it, “Never go to the grocery store hungry,” because if you do, you will purchase more than what you had intended to, more than what you put on the list that you prepared ahead of time to purchase when there. Put yourself to the test in this small area, go to the marketplace hungry and train yourself to purchase only what was on that list.
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind with intentional effort and submission to the Holy Spirit.
If those sites are on your computer that should not be there, that are a hindrance to your walk and personal witness to the Lord, delete one of them today, and maybe one more next week. You did not jump into these temptations, you slid slowly into them, you cannot expect, save by the grace of God to simply stop making those provisions, no matter what they are. I know, for in each of these paths written of in this short letter I have walked, and more. Twice by the grace and mercy of the Lord He removed those lusts immediately; the others initiative and much prayer has been the answer.
One small step, that’s what the prodigal son took, one small step towards home. “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)
If you have made provisions for the flesh, only the Holy Spirit can remove them, but He will not force you to. Choose you this day who you will serve, the Lord Jesus Christ, or your flesh.
