Subdue your flesh
Key verse: 1Corinthians 9:26-27
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 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.
Read: 1 Samuel 11:1-5
The enemy of man is very cunning and vastly experienced in the act of evil that there is no man that can claim to have a means of outwitting him except by the help of the Holy Spirit. While David was infantile, perhaps because of the circumstance of his upbringing, he drew close to God and learnt to fear and worship God to satisfaction. But he liked women and the enemy saw that. While he was a struggling man, it did not cross his mind to usurp anyone’s wife. Even though he may have lusted after Abigail, Nabal’s wife when she made overtures to him over Nabal’s misbehavior, he subdued his flesh until Nabal died of “natural” cause before he took her over. But after he became so made, he threw caution to the wind and took his devoted lieutenant’s wife to his bed. At that time, the thought of God or love for his neighbor never crossed his mind. Lust and desire for pleasure had taken him over. The great king became a pitiable sight before God.
The one who seeks to devour us has a joker card to draw from for each and every one. Life therefore is a battle for survival. We are expected to be alert and on guard always. We cannot afford to live life as if nothing matters. We must run the race as people with focus on a finished line, even as we fight as someone seeing the enemy and having him in focus. To survive his onslaught, like the real boxer, we must not only be able to dodge the jabs but all punches including the upper cut. This we can only achieve through the help of the Holy Spirit by subduing the flesh in us. Friends, it is not time for undue pleasure. Rather, we need now to be more sober and vigilant against the charging adversary. David let down his guard only momentarily and lost it all. Even God was marveled at his misbehavior. God knew his weakness for women and therefore allowed him many. God asked, if you told me you wanted another will I not have given you? That was the bane of David.
What hold has the enemy over you? What are those little foxes that thus easily beset you? Please watch out. Be ready for the enemy. He is not out to play with you as it seems when he makes it look pleasurable. He is out to devour and destroy. Don’t let him.
Pray:
Father, I hide myself in you; don’t let the enemy ever put me down in Jesus name.