Galatians 5:26

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

The "who" in the above verse struck me the other day as I read it. So often we focus on what God does in us, that we neglect to do what we are called to do for ourselves - repent.

It is not easy to walk away from our temptations. Our flesh sometimes cries out with great pain and anguish when we deny it what it is hungering for. We have crucified the flesh, we need to let it die. We need to let it hunger and thirst, and gasp for air.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me

We are able to walk the uncomfortable and painful path because we trust God. The Jesus that we are following did not take the comfortable easy path. He asks us to take up our cross and follow him. When we follow him, he replaces our lustful and sinful passions named in Galatians 5:19-21 with the fruits of the Spirit named in verses 22-23.

It is not God's job to crucify our flesh. It is ours.

Cross posted on the thinking christians blog