No Provision for the Flesh

"Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

Romans 13:13-14

Our plans for the day have a big impact on what we take off and put on.  If I am going outside to mow the law, I will put shoes on my feet.  If I am going to a meeting or preaching, I take off the comfortable clothes I wear around the house so I can don appropriate attire for going to work.  We take off a wedding ring before changing the oil in the car, and we put on insulated gloves before we pick up a hot glass baking dish.  There is often an intentional reason to make provision for the future, like carrying a water bottle during a long hike so we can remain hydrated.

I have heard many teachings on the necessity for us to put on the whole armour of God, and the illustration of Roman armour by Paul gives us understanding of how the indwelling Holy Spirit guards and protects us.  But it is impossible to put on the armour of God unless we have first put on Jesus Christ by faith in Him!  While we have already been born again and put on Christ by faith in Him (Galatians 3:27), the Roman passage affirms we must choose to walk according to faith and by obedience to Jesus in everyday situations of life.  Paul previously exhorted believers in Ephesians 4:21-24:  "...if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."  We are called to put off the old man to put on the new.

After putting on the LORD Jesus Christ, believers are called to "make no provision for the flesh."  Using the example of battle, ample provisions allow the enemy to remain entrenched indefinitely.  It does little good to lay siege to a castle that has plenty of fresh water, grain, meat and milk.  To allow the city to continue a flourishing trade undermines the entire purpose of a siege:  to cut off all supplies from the enemy to starve them out.  Christians can undermine the power of Jesus Christ in their lives when we make provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.  When we make provision for the flesh we give it room to fortify defenses, stockpile ammunition, dig more tunnels, plant more landmines and invite opportunities to engage in guerrilla warfare.  We can put on Jesus Christ, wear the armour supplied by the Holy Spirit and be sleeping at our post--and totally vulnerable to enemy attack--because of drunkenness, lust and all manner of sin.

Since we are risen with Christ to new life, Paul provided clear exhortation in what putting off the old man and putting on the new man looks like in Colossians 3:5-17:  "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. ⁸ But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. ¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Having been justified by faith in Jesus Christ, we ought not justify our participation in sin any longer.  God holds us responsible to put off sin and to put on the attitude, perspective and wisdom of Jesus Christ who has claimed us as His own as we submit to Him.  We make provision for our sin more than we know, and I shudder to think of times my sin was premeditated.  Know that when our sin has been revealed unexpectedly in us because we were caught off guard we are not the victims of circumstances:  it shows we likely for years have carefully cultivated, supported and provided opportunity for our sin to strike damaging blows to hurt others and us.  We cannot blame a satanic attack for our failure to walk in righteousness when we willingly made provisions for the flesh.  Walking in the Spirit and obedience to Jesus starves the enemy and depletes his resources in our flesh, and our faithful God will protect us every step.