“Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day.” (Galatians 5:16-18 MSG)
We all have both a Spirit and a Beast within us. We choose which one has control. The Beast is the animalistic, pleasure-seeking side of us. The Spirit is the part of God that is placed in each of us.
When the Beast is allowed to dominate us, our thoughts and actions are contaminated by pride and self-interest. When the Beast is chained up, it will cause quite a commotion--clanging its chains, demanding to be released. If that doesn’t work, it will wait for the next stressful situation and prey on our weakness. The Beast will try every trick to influence us. It will whisper: Unchain me. Feed me. I can make you feel better. The Beast cannot solve problems, but it can provide temporary distractions. Do not feed the Beast. It will just get stronger and more dangerous.
On the other hand, when the Spirit is in control, our life is saturated with goodness, and our actions are influenced by love. When we feed the Spirit, we are strengthened in faith and trust. We are no longer enslaved by our compulsions. Self-indulgence is replaced by virtue.
The Spirit and the Beast cannot both be in control. We cannot release one and chain up the other according to our whim. We have to make a decision and commit to it.
Feed the Spirit; starve the Beast.
Lord, animate us and motivate us through Your Spirit. Protect us from our inner Beasts.
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