Be ‘true to yourself’

This week a boy of sixteen received 4 million views because he wore a bright red dress to his prom.

His mother said, “I am pleased he is being true to himself”

I don’t know if his family are Christians. But I do not like the phrase ‘be true to yourself’ and it shouldn’t be in the vocabulary of a Christian.

The flesh is rebellious by nature. The flesh and the Spirit are arch enemies. Uncontrolled flesh will lead us away from God, as that is its goal. The Scriptures are full of how to keep the desires of the flesh at bay. ‘But why should we you may ask?’ Because if you don’t it will gain ground over the Spirit! The desire of the flesh is to be ‘top dog.’

The flesh wants to leads astray. The flesh wants to divert. The flesh wants to experiment. The flesh will always want to try the next trend. Something daring. Something unforbidden. And when that particular ‘trend’ was being ‘true to yourself’ back then,, another true-to-yourself worldly trend won’t be far behind! Until one day you are so confused you won’t know who yourself is!

The flesh doesn’t like being ‘born again!’ The flesh now knows it is going to be controlled by a higher force! And it will fight harder than ever for control! The flesh is greedy!

You may reason, ‘But we have flesh. We live in flesh. We have to feed it, wash it, clothe it, keep it clean, and take care of it, or we may get sick.’ I agree. But it’s the ‘extras’ it will always want that we must watch out for!

The flesh is the sinful part of our nature. Once we are born-again, we are two people, the flesh and the Spirit, and that is when a battle begins…

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8: 5).

The flesh wants to get its foot in the door – your spiritual door of purity, commitment, and truth

A lot of what we are seeing today can be put down to one word – LUST.

“Do not let sin rule in your body so that you obey its lusts” (Romans 6:12).

“All that is in the world is lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. This is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:16).

The deeds of the flesh are in Galatians 5 and two of them are impurity and immorality.

Of course, non-believers will give in to impurity, immorality, and lust as they won’t see anything wrong in denying what their flesh desires, “The one who sows to the flesh will will from the flesh reap corruption” (Galatians 6:8). They are also seeking something to satisfy which brings temporal satisfaction until the next new thing the flesh craves.

We know as Christians, that long-term satisfaction can only be attained through Jesus Christ. This does not mean we will be trouble-free. But it does mean, that through it all, we have a long-lasting satisfaction and a feeling of security in Christ, and don’t need the next temporary thrill the world is offering.

You may ask… ‘But won’t the Spirit stop the flesh taking over?’ One of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5, is ‘self control.’ If there is not this fruit of self-control, the flesh will be the winner.

Always remember, when temptation arises, that…YOU, do not belong to YOU, anymore!

That YOU, now belong to someone else! “You are not your own” (Romans 6:19).

HE BOUGHT YOU! “You were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Don’t be ‘true to yourself‘ Be true to God.

“The mind set on the flesh is hostile towards God. Those in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7,8).

I believe that a fat soul is the resistance to the flesh (yes, the Bible speaks of having a ‘fat soul’) so I wrote The Skinny Soul. 26 chapters on keeping the soul fat and healthy. https://christinesmitheurope.wordpress.com/christines-books/

God bless, Christine

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