Crucify the Flesh
ICS Daily Devotions

Joshua 23:6-7, 12-13 (NKJV) Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, … Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations—these that remain among you—and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you, know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.

There is a parallel between the Israelites’ possession of the Promised Land and Christians taking hold of the abundant life that God has given us. They both need action and obedience to enjoy the land and the fruit of the abundant life. The Israelites had crossed over into the Promised Land, but they needed to continue driving out the inhabitants. Similarly, we have also entered God’s kingdom and still need to deal with the flesh, or the old man, to enjoy the abundant life.

While we are saved by grace and will enjoy eternal life with God, we must rein in the flesh to experience the abundant life of love, joy, and peace. One thing we need to be unkind to in our lives is our flesh—the sum of our appetites and desires for living a life independent from God. We must crucify the flesh and prevent the old man from ruling and reigning again. Once we do that, our marriage will improve, our character will change, our words will be different, and we will have a progressively transformed life!

God is sovereign, but He has made us free moral agents, so there are issues in our lives that He expects us to handle with His truth. He has enabled us to do so because He has made us into new creations with God’s nature within us. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome temptation and sin. We have the right and the ability through the new man, but we must put on the new man ourselves.

God commanded His people not to worship other gods or intermarry with the inhabitants of the land but to drive out the remnants completely from the land. Failing to do so out of complacency would result in attacks from these remnants throughout their lives. These nations “shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes.” Likewise, to enjoy the abundant life, we need to address issues in our lives and the sins that easily ensnare us. The Israelites had to confront the occupants of the land, but we also need to deal with the flesh.

Sermon Series: Resolution for 2026