Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
The flesh will never repent. It will never believe that it is going to die. It will never cease its pursuit of evil as long as it has breath and as long as blood flows through it. There is nothing good in our flesh (Rom. 7:18), absolutely nothing. It is the nature of the flesh to do evil; no thought, no planning, no desire for it, is required. If you are "in the flesh", then you are sinning. That is why Paul wrote, "If you live after the flesh, you all shall die; but, if you through the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live" (Rom. 8:13).
Those who are "in the flesh" misunderstand everything. Even when God blesses them, they do not understand His fear (Isa. 26:10). Those who are "in the flesh" are led by their own carnal thoughts and will never submit to the will of God. They can't. It is impossible for those who are "in the flesh" to ever please God (Rom. 8:7-8).
The flesh will always try to dominate you; that is the warfare of the saints. But if you stay humble and keep your mind on God, He will keep you in perfect peace (Isa. 26:3) and make you the master over your physical body. Give Jesus time each day to keep you clean. We need to do that because the unclean spirits of our time are everywhere around us. We can feel them, and the flesh is attracted to them. On the other hand, those unclean spirits can also feel us when we are full of faith toward God. Which would you rather experience? To feel the spirits of this world and constantly be frustrated because of it, or have the spirits of this world feel you and back away from the light that shines through your words and deeds?
Be aggressive with goodness. Even at work , as the Lord told Sister Sandy, "speak the words of God when you speak". Talk about clean things when you talk, and talk about the Lord Jesus. If your heart is in the right place, this is what you will do, even without being told to. Don't let sinners use your ears as a dumping ground for their verbal trash. Refuse to listen. Spend time with Jesus, and he will keep your soul strong enough to overcome anything.
God has blessed you who believe in Jesus with a hatred of evil. Only a few in this world have that blessing bestowed upon them. Take advantage of the blessing you have; use it, and you will come to know God and live forever.