No, not World War I or even World War II. An even greater struggle is taking place that is cosmic in scope. Christ and His Spirit have invaded our world and have already won the decisive victory at the cross on Calvary. Unfortunately, word has not made it to every quarter. Some elements under the control of the Flesh, although ultimately doomed, are holding out in a vicious struggle against the Spirit. We Christian soldiers are battling the Flesh and its desire from the point of view of this ultimate victory in Christ, but in the final phases of this war, the conflict may at times prove to be particularly intense from a personal standpoint. The Spirit is a powerful ally that guarantees us not only the ultimate victory but also, when called upon, victory even in the individual struggles.

As you prepare for this morning’s meditation, please take a look at Galatians 4:21-31, the very end of the chapter just before that of our Epistle text. As you are reading, see if you can figure out whether, by spirit and flesh, Paul is talking about different parts of an individual human being, or if he is talking about something beyond the individual.