Lust should be made to wait. It can wait forever as far as we are concerned. It can grow old and die waiting. But, It demands attention. It's need is urgent. Let's just leave lust in the waiting room until it dies of starvation.
"For lack of wood the fire goes out." - Proverbs 26:20a ESV
When we speak of the flesh we aren't speaking of the physical body. Our body has needs and we should attend to them but our body is linked to our soul and we understand that correct desires have been influenced and twisted by the fall and wrong desire can be created by chains of bad decisions.
"For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." - Romans 8:13-14 ESV
The natural method of avoiding bad things is to do good things instead but that also has it's pitfalls.
"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me." - Romans 7:21 KJV
This is a verse that is used as a building block in the argument for the depravity of man but it also exposes the flaws of mankind's effort based methods that put would put wood on the fire of lust.
Trying to good is the problem because when we try intrinsic evil is right there with us.
The quiet weighty matters of the Spirit are the answer. A life occupied with God's light and God's purposes will function in love.
"Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." - Romans 13:10 ESV
"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." - John 9:5 ESV
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16 ESV
Worship is a weighty matter of the Spirit. Caring for souls is weighty. Meditating on grace is. Believing in Jesus' character and finished work on Calvary and knowing we are justified and made holy by God apart from our effort or performance is a quiet truth that does not scream for our attention but it has so much value that if we are wise we will make it our focus again and again.
We do what we do to the glory (revealing) of God. We know that how we are affects people's capacity to hear our words and we want to reveal Christ to people. We want to reveal Him to people that are lost and also to ones who already know Him. We are lights revealing the Gospel of Grace just like Jesus was a light revealing His Father's character and will.
In our weakness and in our strength we live in excellence not perfection or goodness. Why? Because God is excellent. Rebound (bouncing back after defeat or failure) reveals God. Love reveals God. Being unashamed of our Savior is excellent. We do all that we do and use all our might and creativity basking in God's light and God uses us as a light to lead people to Himself.
All the while lust can sit out there forgotten rereading old magazines for all I care.
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