In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.
“Now the primary task of mortification is to weaken the habit of sin so that its power to express itself – in violence, frequency, tumult, provocation and unrest – is quelled – (no great quotes)
“Mortification is the soul’s vigorous opposition to the fruitless self-life. – I need to beware because I prefer many different junk foods to bread and fruit literally and spiritually.”
According to what you are learning in the text, what is ‘mortification’?
“To effectively kill sin’s influence by disconnecting it from its power source.”
According to what you are learning in the text, what is the ‘flesh’?
“The fallen human body and the evil misdeeds it is home to.”
What sinful attitudes and actions are outside the scope of what is being addressed in Romans 6 ?
“none are”
Praise – “You are regal, reigning on high, ruler of all the universe, reverence-worthy, and righteous.”
Ask – Today ask God to bring to your mind specific battles you’re facing right now. You need to have specific struggles of the flesh in mind as you go through this unit this week. Notice especially those battles that seem persistent or deeply entrenched. As David did, ask God to search you to see whether there is any ‘wicked way’ in you (Psalm 139:23-24).
“At the surface level I love my games and TV shows too much and spend more time on them than I should. A reasonable amount would probably be harmless, but my usage affects my sleep levels, housework, and even relationships. So at a deeper level, I put my wants, my pleasure, and myself ahead of others – I am selfish as well as lazy.
“At a deeper (or equally deep level), I feel a sense of entitlement, especially when I have done some work. Since my college days I have given into the temptation to feel I deserve some sort of equal time payment in fun for all time spent doing any sort of work.
“Please help me put the needs, wishes and comfort of my family ahead of my own.”
Repent – “I’m sorry I didn’t feel up to this prayer yesterday.”
Yield – “I will try to let You guide me and change me in this way.”
Dearest Rachel –
I have to admit, the title of this particular week’s worth of studies is an odd one; one doesn’t use the word “mortify” in the sense of discipline these days as much as to describe one’s embarrassment in a situation. So the expression “to mortify one’s flesh” sounds odd to the ear, as if in some dimly understood language; even to those like you and me who grew up understanding various phrases of “Christianese.”
To be sure, I can’t think of a comparable term outside of Christian circles to make the concept more understandable – we grew up trailing what was known as the “me” generation, and with the rise of technology, gratification has steadily become that much more instant over time; self-discipline as a concept is nearly as alien as a word like “mortification.” Granted, your description of cutting one’s sinful self off from its source of power is at least something that could be widely understood as a metaphor – as well as the ‘junk food’ versus ‘fruit of the Spirit’ analogy – but then there comes the question of how to apply these in daily life.
Even if one did know how and where to apply that sort of discipline, it’s easier said than done, isn’t it? I’m not sure, but it seems like there must have been something that happened the day before your wrote this response that particularly goaded you into the detailed answer to the “ask” category of your prayer. I almost wish I could remember what it was that happened (since it seemed to have to do with Daniel or myself) so that I could absolve you of it.
To be sure, there were times – and I’ve mentioned this before – when the three of us would be in the same room together, but since we were each on our own computers, it occurred to me in the moment that we could just as easily be miles away, and it wouldn’t make a whole lot of difference. That’s not meant as condemnation – after all, I was every bit as guilty of separating myself from the two of you as you and Daniel were – and even with the realization dawning upon myself, I did nothing to change the situation, as I concluded we were each quite content to be in our own little worlds, and disturbing that equilibrium would do none of us any good in comparison to how we were in the moment. Would we resent having to interact with each other if I had made a point of forcing the issue? Probably not, but I didn’t want to chance it; and I probably was just as selfishly wanting to indulge in my little digital world as the two of you. After all, I’d likely had a hard day at work, and I had that same sense of entitlement as you did.
Meanwhile, you generally took that into account, and didn’t push me to do things either, assuming a similar thought occurred to you at any given time. It was probably a case of recognizing the logs in our own eyes, and therefore making no effort to address the speck in the others’; but in so doing, each of us kept going around with both speck and log in our eyes, I suppose, because we were too comfortable with – and had adapted to – both of them. I don’t know.
As you know, I’ve tried to address these things in my life ever since, but I know I have a long way to go yet. I’ve probably still got enough logs left in my eyes to build a decent sized cabin, if only I would remove them as obstacles and use them as to their intended purpose. Toward that end, then, I’d ask you to continue to keep an eye on me, and wish me luck, as I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 