Have you ever found yourself on the horns of a dilemma? That is one position in which no one in their right mind would choose to be, but often the choice is made for us by the circumstances of life. For instance, we can choose to live by the Spirit of God, but the old self tends to draw us away into our own desires. We are then faced with a decision of serving the Spirit, or serving the flesh—a dilemma!

The Apostle Paul knew of that dichotomy well, and alludes to the struggle in his letter to the Galatians 5.16-17: So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Our life decisions are indeed matters of all-or-nothing when it comes to serving God. He will not accept half of a heart.

The dilemma with which we are thus faced is found in the choice of Spirit or flesh. Saint Paul continues: For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. The simple truth is that the Spirit and the flesh are at war, and a war is won when the enemy is defeated. There can be no negotiated settlement of this battle.

That’s what Paul is saying in conclusion: They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. As we learned in Snack #594, God gives us help—always and everywhere. If we set our hearts on a life in the Spirit, and ask God to help us stay there forever, we will gain victory over the flesh. I have decided to live in the Spirit, and the flesh can just wait! DECIDE ON THE SPIRIT!