Natural Man – Saintly Man

by Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.blogspot.com

We live in a day that was foretold ages ago - a time of conflicts, wars, and turmoil.  While these conflicts play out in each day’s news media, this week’s meditative verse reflects not on the battles around us, but on the ongoing war within us.  The Apostle Paul referred to these inner conflicts. “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”  Romans 7:21-23

Most every day of our lives an inner struggle for self-mastery goes on.  The “Saintly Man or Woman,” seeking both progress and repentance, combats the “Natural Man.” This “natural” part of our natures seeks to dominate our soul by giving way to the base and carnal desires of unmanaged agency.  For the period marked by the unification of spirit and body at birth until their separation by death, finds each entity – our spirit and our body seeking dominance and mastery.  The gospel plan calls for our personal spirits to grow in light, wisdom, truth, and power so as to bring the body under its subjection – training it, disciplining it, and sanctifying it. 

It makes perfectly good sense that he who would destroy our souls would employ strategies that put wedges between body and spirit. Anything that will boost the body’s dominion over the spirit becomes a useful tactic. Anything that will subvert the divinely ordained purposes of the body and spirit will be part of the Deceiver’s master plan. Misery does love company and his aim is to make all men miserable like unto himself. “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” 2 Nephi 2:27

However, we have help and hope in walking the path of the Saintly Man or Woman. The son or daughter of God who seeks self-mastery can increase in spiritual power and strength and bring the body under the control of the spirit. Again we turn to Paul’s affirming faith, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. …. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”  Romans 8:1-2 & 26-27

We submit for your reflection this week’s meditative verse, “Natural Man – Saintly Man.” 

Larry Doyle Crenshaw, MeditationsInLight.blogspot.com.

Natural Man – Saintly Man

For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Book of Mormon   Mosiah 3:19

The Natural Man or the Saintly Man?

Whose journey do I choose to take?

The trail where passions are in command

Or a penitent’s path with covenants to make?

My Natural Man is an enemy to God

And has been from Adam’s fall

Unless I yield and grasp the iron rod

And respond obediently to His call

As to a father a child doth submit

Submissive and full of affection

My heart, mind and soul I commit

To Heavenly Father’s direction

But the evil one sets snares and entices

He plots and schemes and conspires

Entrapping with plots, ploys and devices

For our misery is the company he desires  

But the Saintly Man is a friend of God

And will be eternally - forever and ever

So, the path of repentance I will trod

And become a Penitent Saint forever

Larry Doyle Crenshaw