Day by Day with Martin Luther

Read: Deut. 21:1-27:26 Luke 9:51-11:13 Proverbs 12:11-17

“The Battle of the Flesh”

“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”
[Galatians 5:17]

When someone becomes aware of this battle of the flesh, he should not lose heart on this account; but by the Spirit he should fight back and say: “I am a sinner, and I am aware of my sin; for I have not yet put off my flesh, to which I will cling as long as I live. But I will do my best to obey the Spirit rather than the flesh. I will fortify myself with His Word, and thus fortified I will refuse to gratify my flesh.” What great comfort it is to know the struggles of beloved St. Paul, for he also knows of hurt, and of struggle. Righteousness reigns supreme, and in Christ, we also reign.