Which dog are you feeding?

This article contains a very powerful story about the battle between our fleshly and spiritual natures as believers.

When Jesus came to earth, we know that He was still God, but in human form, He would battle the same things that you and I do as we live here on this earth.

The Bible tells us He was tempted to sin, but He never sinned despite the temptations that came to Him from time to time.

Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) — 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Temptation comes to all of us, and at its core is the question of whether we are going to live with the present in mind or eternity.

Are we going to please our fleshly nature or strengthen our spiritual nature?

Galatians 5:16–17 (NASB) — 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 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.

Billy Graham, in his book, “The Holy Spirit: Activating God’s Power in Your Life.” (AFFILIATE LINK) Shared the following story to illustrate how temptation can become stronger in our lives than our ability to overcome it.

“An Eskimo fisherman came to town every Saturday afternoon. He always brought his two dogs with him. One was white, and the other was black. He had taught them to fight on command. Every Saturday afternoon in the town square, the people would gather, and these two dogs would fight, and the fisherman would take bets. On one Saturday, the black dog would win; another Saturday, the white dog would win – but the fisherman always won! His friends began to ask him how he did it. He said, “I starve one and feed the other. The one I feed always wins because he is stronger.”

Billy Graham writes, “This story about the two dogs is apt because it tells us something about the inner warfare that comes into the life of a person who is born again. We have two natures within us, both struggling for mastery. Which one will dominate us? It depends on which one we feed.”

The question for today: “Which dog inside of you are you feeding?”