How would you like the time you are here on earth to be full of life and peace? There is nothing worse than death and war/disturbance. I don’t know about you, but when I got married I thought of spending time with my husband (my best friend), bringing joy, peace, and a living, growing relationship!
Many times, sadly, this is not the case. Soon after the wedding, the relationship begins to die before it can even start. Arguing, selfishness, laziness, etc. show their ugly faces. The flesh is in complete control. The flesh is a destroyer. It is strong. It sneaks in and works its way into the relationship. Most times, for men, the conquest of wooing the woman he met ends when they walk down the aisle and says “I do”. And, the new wife is left with much disappointment. Since she is not taught properly how to be an Ezer, she does not share with her new husband what is on her heart. The husband has the role of spiritual leader and is often unaware of how his choices in this new role can either lead to death, or to life and peace in their new union.
Romans 8:6 (NIV) “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Paul gets straight to the point. He shares how there is a decision we must make. Will we let our mind be governed by our flesh, or will we choose to have our spirit’s mind be governed by the Holy Spirit? We see evidence in what choice we make by the fruit/evidence of what is going on in our lives. Galatians 5:19-26 speak of this fruit/evidence:
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
There is GREAT encouragement in this! When you feel like there is no life in you, no peace in you; you know that you are being ruled by your flesh. And, likewise, when you feel life and peace; you are experiencing a Spirit led life. We have a choice! But, you must fight fire with fire so to speak. You must choose to put to death the flesh which is causing death. The blessing of a truly peaceful and loving marriage is sitting there waiting for you to choose it; but the rewards of laying down the flesh are great!
Encouragement also comes from the fact that we are not left unequipped! Several things come to mind. We have the Holy Spirit who leads, empowers, guides in all truth, reveals, and regenerates (to name a few) us. Then, Jesus says Himself in Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.”