In our passage today, the term "governed" is used to describe how the flesh rules over the mind, controlling our actions and our behaviors. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, "governed" means to control and direct with continuous sovereign authority. In simple terms, our fleshly nature controls our thinking, making it impossible for us to change our behaviors and actions on our own.

It's important to understand that the concept of flesh goes beyond our physical bodies, which will eventually cease to function. In the Bible, the flesh is defined as our sinful nature, characterized by our lust and our desires (1 John 2:16). Living in the "flesh state," we are hostile to God and His law, the Bible. Many of us can relate to this condition, as we have experienced moments when our sinful nature controlled us, leading us to reject, deny, and even mock others for their beliefs. The latter part of today's passage confirms our ongoing struggle to change, stating that we cannot submit to God or His law when controlled and governed by the flesh.

Before accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior, we all lived in an unrepentant sinful state. During that time, our soul, the immaterial and eternal part of who we are, was controlled by our fleshly nature. The driving force behind all our actions and behaviors was rooted in sin and selfishness. The flesh dictated our inclinations, desires, behavior, and actions. Simply put, the flesh initiated the behaviors, and our soul carried them out.

I vividly recall my attitudes and thought processes before fully surrendering my life to Christ. My entire mindset was contrary to God and His Word. What's worse, I considered myself a Christian and believed I would go to heaven if I died. However, my heart, mind, and soul were directed by my flesh rather than God. The Bible teaches us that God is love, yet I lacked love for others and myself during those years. I remember a conversation I had one day when someone expressed concern about a stranger they believed was unsaved and destined for hell. My response was callous: "Why should you care? You don't know them."

Today, that attitude feels foreign to me. When God transformed my life, I shifted from self-centeredness to genuinely loving and caring for total strangers. I am grateful that God has given me countless opportunities to minister to, love, and fellowship with unknown individuals. While we may lack the ability to change ourselves, God can and will transform us if we allow Him.

This necessary transformation can only come from God; it is not something we can manufacture through self-will, determination, or resolve. We simply do not possess enough personal strength or resolve to bring about the change needed for the present and the future. We will delve into how this transformation occurs and what it means for us later. For now, however, I want us to reflect on our lives.