But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts). (Romans 13:14 AMP)
I don't usually think too much about what to wear, but here Paul directs us to clothe ourselves in Christ. Clothes are a covering for our bodies. They offer protection against the elements and a covering so we are acceptable in public. This is great! I'm liking this verse - I'll take Jesus' protection and his covering for my image. From there, however, God demands discipline to make no provision for indulging the flesh. A truly hard rule as my stomach growls and I prepare to head to the breakfast buffet. Furthermore we're to even stop thinking about evil cravings. Now being hungry isn't a sin, but what about the last word here: lust. Ouch! This is a difficult one to master, yet by putting on Christ, the Holy Spirit can provide the willpower we lack. My issue is do I really want Jesus to control my evil lusts or do I buy into the lie that happiness can be found in the desires of the flesh. As the rich young ruler said, this is a difficult teaching.
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