“Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him — a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
A preacher who used to work with Native American tribes as a church-planter and missionary, once recounted a story of a Native American who had come to Christ. It was after a Sunday morning service and the preacher asked the Native American how he doing.
The man responded that it was hard not to go back to his old sinful ways, both the old religion and the old fleshly nature. He said, “Its like two dogs are fighting within me. Some days the dog of the new me seems to getting the upper hand, but other days the dog of the old me is stronger and he does better. Oh, preacher these dogs are always fighting.”
The preacher responded, “Well, which dog wins?”
The Native American paused and then replied, “The dog I feed the most! That dog wins.”
Colossians 3:5-16 is not a calm passage about only doctrinal concerns. It is a violent story of two dogs fighting for their very lives. In one corner is a dog who has been around longer, and knows the fight. This dog is the old self, the fleshly sinful nature. Sadly, this dog is wins by default in many dog fights.
But, when a person gives his heart to Christ, He puts a dog of His own in the ring: the new spiritual nature. Now, there is a fight.
The spirit dog is fresh and he dominates at first. But, the flesh dog very strong and this is going to be no easy battle. Both prepare for a long fight with many rounds and battles. But, take this to the bank; the dog that gets fed will triumph. And, the dog that is starved will not do well.
How is the dog fed? The battle takes place inside, in the mind and the mind must do the feeding. Paul writes in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” He also writes in Philippians 4:8-9, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me[Paul], practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
By constantly putting the good things of God (Scripture reading, prayer, quiet time, worship, fellowship with other believers, ministry, service, etc.) in the mind the good dog of the spirit is fed and made strong. But, when the fleshly things of this world (Secular TV, coarse jesting, obscene music and movies, commercialism, etc.) are put into the mind, the evil dog of the flesh is fed and made strong.
If you don’t feel spiritual or close to God, then look at which dog you are feeding the most. That dog will surely win. What dog are you feeding the most? What changes do you have to make to start feeding God’s dog more?
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