101. Узда

As there is a bridle for a fierce and furious horse, so there is restraint for the passionate and lustful flesh. The horse restrains itself with a bridle and obeys the wishes of the ruling rider. Likewise, a Christian must restrain the lustful flesh and subdue the spirit or mind. But let's see what the flesh wants and what the spirit wants, and what the battle is between them. The flesh wants to be proud and exalted, but the spirit does not want that. The flesh wants to despise and destroy others, but the spirit does not want that. The flesh wants to slander, condemn, discredit a person - the spirit does not want that. The flesh wants to live in the pride and pomp of this world, but the spirit does not want to. The flesh wants to seek and have wealth, glory and honor in this world - the spirit does not want to. The flesh wants to have all kinds of entertainment in this world - the spirit turns away from them. The flesh wants to have feasts, feast and have fun - the spirit does not want that. The flesh wants to dress in beautiful, smart clothes, but the spirit does not want to. The flesh wants to be angry, to be angry, to take revenge for an offense against a neighbor, to repay evil for evil, to repay annoyance for annoyance, to reproach the one who reproaches, to reproach the one who reproaches, to slander the one who slander, to offend the offender and quarrel with him - the spirit turns away from all this. The flesh wants to commit fornication, adultery and wallow in uncleanness - the spirit turns away from this. The flesh wants to revel and get drunk, but the spirit does not want that. The flesh wants to lie, flatter, deceive - the spirit does not want that. The flesh wants to live in idleness, but the spirit does not want that. The flesh wants to idle, speak crazy words, blaspheme - the spirit does not want that. The flesh wants to kidnap, steal, take away other people's goods and appropriate them in every possible way - the spirit does not want to, and so on. This is carnal desire and thinking. On the contrary, what the spirit wants, the flesh does not want. The spirit wants to follow the will of God and do it, but the flesh does not want to. The spirit wants to humble itself before God and people, but the flesh does not want to. The spirit wants to show obedience to God and do His holy commandments - the flesh does not want to. The spirit wants to act lovingly, peacefully, sincerely, and with sincerity towards one’s neighbor—the flesh does not want this. The spirit wants to live a temperate and chaste life, but the flesh does not want to. The spirit wants to have mercy on his neighbor, and to supply him with his needs, and to help him - the flesh does not want to. The spirit wants to endure insults and forgive people’s sins—the flesh does not want that. The spirit wants to love enemies, do good to those who hate, bless those who curse, and pray for those who create misfortune - the flesh turns away from all this. The spirit wants to remain silent, endure, and meekly endure in troubles, misfortunes, temptations and all suffering - the flesh does not want this. The spirit wants to place its hope in God in everything; the flesh does not want this. The spirit wants to create all truth, but the flesh does not want to. The spirit wants to please God in everything - the flesh does not want to, but wants to please itself, and so on. This is spiritual desire and thinking. Do you see what a battle and disagreement there is between the flesh and the spirit. This is what the apostle says: The flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the flesh: they oppose each other (Gal. 5:17). You see carnal thinking and spiritual thinking. You see what the flesh wants and what the spirit wants. Just as a horse is bridled and the bridle submits to the will of the rider, so we Christians must subdue the flesh to the spirit, and mortify carnal thinking with the spirit, and do not what the passionate and lustful flesh wants, but what the spirit wants. Do not be like the horse and the mule, who have no understanding (Ps. 31:9). For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on carnal things, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on spiritual things. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for they do not obey the law of God, and indeed cannot. Therefore those who live according to the flesh cannot please God. So, brethren, we are not debtors 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 flesh, you will live. Do not turn cares for the flesh into lusts (Rom. 8:5–8, 12–13; 13:14). Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, for the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh: they oppose each other, so that you do not do what you would like. But those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts (Gal. 5:16–17, 24). “Who at the ninth hour tasted death for our flesh, put to death our wisdom in the flesh, O Christ our God, and save us.” You might be interested in: