Romans 13:13-14 Choice
Food for Thought
An all-creatures.org Guide to Kingdom Living. True Christian living requires us to live according to Kingdom standards which bring Heaven to earth

By Marni Montanez

Romans 13:13-14 Holman Christian Standard Bible 

13. Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.

14. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.

In normal settings people usually eat what they desire to eat.  They put things into their mouth that may be healthy or unhealthy and are given the choice to decide for themselves.   The results of how and what we choose to eat will eventually reveal itself in our bodies.  We cannot continuously eat only "junk" food and expect a to be fit and healthy.   This is the same for our spiritual life.   Our spirit can be made strong or our flesh (sinful nature) can be made strong, depending on which one we are feeding.  God tells us not to feed on sinful things because they are toxic and will only bring death. 

James 1:14-15  (NKJV) 

14. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

15. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.   

In verse 13 we are given a list of things to avoid. 

God also tells us that by clothing ourselves with the fruit of Jesus, we become full with the goodness of God and will not have room for sinful or fleshly things.  In time our flesh decreases as our spirit increases in power and strength.  A Spirit led life opens the door to hear God's voice clearer and keeps us in the center of God's will. 

The freedom gained causes us to feel a peace that cannot be explained nor can it be copied.   A Christian's well balanced life includes, bible reading,  soaking in the presence of God and knowing who He is.  We must be excellent and consume excellent things.  This will give us the spiritual nutrition we need to be strong and balanced in this world.   

There is wisdom in this story:   

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

“One is evil, which is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

“The other is good, which is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

God bless

Marni

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The purpose of this series is to encourage people to live as loving, compassionate, and peacemaking children of God: Jesus tells us to pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) God tells us through Micah (6:8), "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God." And we know from Revelation 21:4 that there will be no more mourning, or crying, or pain, or death. Thus, Christian living requires us to set the standards of these conditions here on earth for our fellow human beings, and for the other animals, as a witness to the rest of the world. To do otherwise is not Christian.