We all have natural bents. Some toward lust. Some toward violence. Some toward self-gratification. (actually - ALL toward self-gratification). There is a battle raging within us. In Galatians 5:16 we read that the Spirit and the flesh are at WAR with each other. This explains why some non-Christians can seem at such peace. It takes two to battle, and they are so consumed by their own fleshly nature that a battle doesn't exist!
The Christian has a war in his soul because upon salvation he is sealed with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13,14) and now has two conflicting entities within him. Of course there is going to be war, and what Christian could honestly claim that they don't feel the battle within their heart?
David and Saul are classic examples of this. Both had a bent to violence. All men do. In I Samuel 24 David sees Saul "relieving himself" and is overcome by a natural desire to kill him. Or at least humiliate him. But he listens to the Voice and feels stricken that he even had the thought. He repents and lets God go to work. In I Samuel 25 Nabal insults David and he responds again with an intense desire to take matters into his own hands and seek vengeance. It's difficult to overcome this bent. But Abigail intercedes and he once again listens to the Voice and pulls back his hand. He has a change of heart.
Saul has the same bent as David. He uses all of his best resources to hunt down his rival with the intention of killing him. Several times he hears the Voice - and he repents for a moment, but then continues on his way. He has heard the Voice, has a temporary change of heart, but then continues on with his natural inclination.
What is the difference between these two men? They both have the same natural bent to self-justification. We all have it. A bent to violently taking matters into our own hands. The difference is a willingness to listen when God speaks and then to act upon it. To allow His Spirit to truly change our minds and to remove our hand from the neck of our enemy and let God move in His way.
How is this battle won?
II Corinthians 10:5 "Taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
It is won in the mind. It is won in our quiet times with God. David meditated upon God and His Word and so was able to not only hear the Voice, but to respond with a change of heart. The battle is won before it is ever waged.
Do you take every thought and make it captive to Christ? Or do you make Christ captive to your thoughts and make Him obedient to them? We have a tendency to lean in a direction and try to force Christ into that direction with us. Saul did this. Read his story and note how many times he misunderstood every piece of information as a sign that God was with him. God was not with him. He had left him. But Saul was leaning in a direction and continually made God obedient to his own personal thoughts and agendas. How often do we see individuals and churches do this.
Step back and listen. Feel which way the Wind is really blowing. Go that way. Lean hard into the direction God is going.
Jeremiah 6:16 "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."
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