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“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” I wonder how much of our day is spent in spiritual thought? Not just in prayer, or recitation of memorized scripture, but in viewing situations and circumstances with a spiritual eye. Are the people we meet known to us as souls God loves; people Christ willingly died to save? Are difficulties seen as character builders? Is God given glory for the rich blessings He provides? Unfortunately, that which is felt, tasted, and seen is oft more persuasive than the invisible things of God. Our flesh is in constant conflict with the Spirit, and our main challenge is to see that we feed the spiritual man to a greater degree. When we are living in consistent submission to the Savior, the flesh doesn’t stand a chance in drawing us into the grip of sin. Believers have the power to overcome it, because it has been granted by God. Let us live in the Spirit by doing those things that are spiritual, keeping our minds free from the pollution of this world.

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Humans are creatures yielded to something or someone. While sinful men often boast of their “freedom” to do as they choose, it is their choosing that reveals their slavery. The desires of sinful flesh are only to do evil and sin. Redeemed children of God are not free from their flesh, and therefore struggle against these same desires. The wonderful reality of salvation is that we do not have to let them rule us. The indwelling Holy Spirit of God grants us power to be free from allegiance to sin. For us, it becomes a matter of yielding our members. Our challenge becomes submission to God’s will and rejection of our own. The battle for righteousness rages daily within us, yet the Lord has made us well-able to finish victorious. If you are finding yourself on the losing end today, remember that overcoming power comes from God alone. Look to Him, yielding to His will moment by moment. Start by winning a small battle this hour, then look toward higher goals in the next.

“Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.” Even God-given victory takes time, and sometimes excruciating effort. What’s more, it often faces great opposition. While enemies surround us, our success is never in doubt. Our job is to trust the Lord through each individual moment of trial. The challenge is to focus on the promise, and have confidence in the character of the One who made it. Israel was constantly confronted, but never in danger of loss. Believers in Christ may face persecution. We have the hope of heaven in our hearts, and the promise of God, as He will bring it to pass. We can also be certain that He will work all things together for good. These assurances should keep us in consistent obedience to Him. He is just as trustworthy, loving, and kind in the midst of war. When Joshua had a moment to look back on this season of constant battle, I am certain he treasured his relationship with God through every moment. He, like us, should not have taken consolation in final victory, but in the God of final victory.

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Sometimes this passage is applied rather casually. We may use it when we encounter a momentary, uncomfortable situation in life. Joshua was facing nothing of the sort. He was charged with taking his people into a foreign land, where they would face armed conflict and constant danger. In all reality they were headed to war; and while the land had been given to them by God, much of it was obtained in battle. While we read the story today and see the ease with which it was accomplished, the fighting men of Israel still had to draw swords and stare the enemy in the eye. Certainly God has a plan in mind for every one of us. For Joshua and the children of Israel it was to dwell in the land of promise. No enemy can derail God’s plan, but circumstances may arise that test our faith. Just as God commanded Joshua to be strong, and we ought to do the same. In the heat of battle or the calm of everyday life, we should keep God’s plan in mind. If all else fails, remember Joshua’s assignment; it should help to put your “difficult” situation into focus.

“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” These are verses we must remind ourselves about often. As ministers of Jesus Christ, we should understand core doctrines and have at least a conceptual understanding of how to navigate complicated aspects of our faith. In doing this, we must remember not to be weighed down by foolish struggles concerning opinion, preference, or the letter of the law. These encounters profit nothing, and succeed only in magnifying ourselves. Still, there are those both in, and around the church that teach doctrine that is clearly false. These would seek to pervert the gospel and deceive many, out of their own lust. God has given us tools from His word to identify and reject these liars. We must not confuse legalistic wrangling with Biblical confrontation of evil. These duties are interdependent, and equally important; that is why they are found within the same passage.