Should’ve, Would’ve, Could’ve… But I Didn’t!
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
The Apostle Paul said… I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, buy I am doing the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:15)
Me too!
At any time in the “Should’ve, Would’ve, Could’ve” mantra there are choices made that really have NO GOOD excuse. And, to be honest, a GOOD excuse is only an attempt to convince you… it doesn’t have anything to do with making the RIGHT choice or acting on the RIGHT choice.
Our normal human way is to PLEASE the flesh… APPEASE our neighbor… DEMAND ACCEPTANCE from God.
It isn’t that I do not KNOW the right thing to do. It is that my flesh DESIRES a certain outcome… Eve “saw” that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that it was desirable to make one wise (Genesis 3:4)
And so she ate… and gave to her husband to eat…
The logic of the flesh!
And… no matter how “holier than thou” one might be… no one’s flesh goes down without a fight. A fight that is so bloody at times, we give in because we are AFRAID OF OURSELF!
There are those who, like a judge with a gavel, declare (with loud voices and fists pounding their pulpit) “It is a simple matter of just doing!” Then they declare your guilt and issue their approval of all punishment that has come or will be coming.
What they say is true… like Eve… I am guilty, I deserve punishment.
But guess what… punishment will NEVER CHANGE the desires of my flesh. I will remain the same slave to myself that I always have been.
I will agree… I should’ve, would’ve, could’ve…
but…
I didn’t!
When you yell and pound your fist at what you declare UNWORTHY plans and actions on my part, what have you accomplished? When you take the soapbox of fire and brimstone, will your audience listen and learn? I’m guessing, “No!”
The only person who will be pleased and impressed with your oratorical skill, will only be yourself. The rest of us, if we haven’t turned off our hearing aids to avoid the screeching, will leave shaking our heads at such hypocrisy and vowing to never give you the podium again!
Though sometimes I may accidentally get it all right, the cure for my human condition is not me… or you… but only God.
Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. We live because Christ died for us. We can walk by His Spirit by constantly and continually being led by the Holy Spirit whom God has placed in our hearts… “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)
It’s a walk! And regardless of how desperate you are for me to do the right thing, I must WALK! I must walk NOT by your wisdom and direction but I must walk with the Holy Spirit… it is my WALK OF FAITH… one step, then two steps, then three… and pretty soon I am putting one foot in front of the other… forgetting what lies behind, reaching forward to what lies ahead, pressing on toward the goal… the prize… the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)
Rather than yelling, screaming, and being disgusted with my mess ups, you could BELIEVE in my future…
Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Rather than busting a blood vessel and/or causing a permanent break in relationship you could ENCOURAGE (and pray for) my walk of faith…
2 Peter 1:5-8 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I want to… Could’ve, Would’ve Should’ve.
But… I Didn’t… or don’t.
Jesus ALWAYS Does!
Isaiah 55:11-12 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. “For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
How about this for a walk (more like dancing)…
We could walk (dance) Side by Side and Hand in Hand…
I’m just saying… Sshh!
**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible