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Dis-Related

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Is it possible to live life in two separate realms, to believe one thing and yet live dis-related from what we believe? The Scriptures speak of living according to the flesh versus living according to the spirit with the emphasis being more favored toward the Spirit. We are encouraged to not live after the ways of the world, the flesh:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” 2 In the Daily Devotional for May 24, Return to Reason, we looked at an event in the life of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon from Daniel 4:1-37 where he came to knowledge about God and yet did not change the beliefs of his life to match his subsequent actions. He saw truth about God but didn’t change his beliefs and continued in his worldly ways with outcomes to be avoided. He was warned in a dream of the need to change his ways, knew the outcome, was momentarily convinced that the dream was true but then went on his way doing life his way. A year later, he lives out the very thing he had been warned about and enters a seven year consequence before his reason again recognizes God and is humbled. Even then, he does believe the truth enough to change his interactions with the world.

Daniel had plead with the king to change his ways but it was just so much information to the King. When Daniel concludes this interpretation, it is with his personal plea to Nebuchadnezzar,

Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.” 3

But as with most of us, this urgent warning from God loses its urgency with time. ‘At the end of twelve months…’ Neb’ is thinking to himself as he walks on the roof of the palace in Babylon,

“Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 4  

Remember Daniel’s plea for Nebuchadnezzar to ‘break off his sinning’? The time has come for correction.

While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 5  

By Nebuchadnezzar’s own recounting of what happened next, that is exactly what happened to him and for how long it took him to repent of his arrogance. It was only when he acknowledged God again that he was restored.

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me… Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. 6

We would like to believe after all of that he would change his lifestyle to match what he had thought about God but there is no indication this recognition of God endured in his life.

There is a disconnect between knowing truth and believing truth. May we suggest that truth without the wisdom to believe and act in the truth will not change instability. James 1:5-8 confirms the folly of knowledge without belief:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.7

Again, there’s a way that seems right… When our orientation is toward what pleases us in our fleshly pursuits or our supposed self-interests, it will not have results in relationship toward God that we would desire.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 8

Lest we misstate the primacy of wisdom, wisdom without relationship with God is also vain. Solomon, proclaimed the wisest man by the Bible, wrote Ecclesiastes with the entire book being about wisdom without the supremacy of God filtering wisdom’s view of what is valuable in life. Nebuchadnezzar ‘knew’ about God, had momentary insight, acclaimed God as Lord, but did not take that knowledge to heart’s belief and act upon it by living it out for the duration of his life.

There is a tragedy when we know information, think it is true, think it is worthy of being actionable and yet, do no believe it enough to live it out. The Bible clearly states that life worth living is lived by the Spirit of God in us and us living according to what is true according to God:

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 9 

FOOTNOTES & LINKS:
 1 1 John 2:15-17 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible link
 2 Proverbs 14:12 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible link
 3 Daniel 4:27 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible link
 4 Daniel 4:30 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible link
 5 Daniel 4:31-32 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible link
 6 Daniel 4:34-37 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible link
 7 James 1:5-8 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible link
 8 Romans 8:5-8 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible link
 9 Romans 8:9-15 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible link
KEY TEXT: Romans 8:5-8 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible link
All Scripture references from the Blue Letter Bible, ESV
at https://www.blueletterbible.org
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version
copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles,
a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers.
All rights reserved.

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