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Flesh?

For 2021, I am reading through the Bible with the Bible Project-Biblical Storyline Reading Plan on the YouVersion App. This devotional will follow along with the daily reading.

Today's reading is: Genesis 16-18

In the story of Abraham and Sarah, Sarai does what other women did in her day when she could not conceive. The patterns of behavior that people use to get what they think they want are very different than what God wants to give people. God doesn't just give us the blessings of His promises right away. God lets the evil in our hearts be shown to us. God lets us hate what our evil produces in our lives. God's purpose in letting us act in our flesh, in our sinful nature, is to show us our need for Him.  God teaches us how to live not in the flesh, but in the Spirit.

It took Abram and Sarai a long time to understand what God had promised and why. In Genesis 17:18, Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before You!" This was not how God would fulfill His promise to Abraham. Ishmael resulted from a faithless act on the part of Abram and Sarai. Ishmael was the son of the faithless flesh, the sinful nature. God gave Abram and Sarai new life which was marked by their new names. Though they didn't quite understand, God showed them that God acts in a new way apart from the flesh. Abraham and Sarah received from God the son given by God produced not by the flesh but by God's complete power over nature to do anything He wills.

If I am going to walk in faith, then I need to love as Jesus loves to bring glory to the name of Jesus. Let my flesh suffer, that the life in Jesus be lifted high for all to see. My benefit comes not through the flesh which is passing away, but through the growth of my relationship with God.

1 Peter 4:1 NASB - Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,


2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV - For we live by faith, not by sight.

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