Do you ever plan ahead? Most folks when they go on vacation will plan ahead. Before most folks have surgery, they will plan ahead. Even when most folks go to the grocery store, they will plan ahead. Putting our minds to events—to consider as many aspects of those events in advance—is an essential life skill. But not all advanced planning is good.
In Romans 13:14, Christians are given two instructions, which is actually one instruction with two contrasting sides. Let’s start with the second part, where God commands (with a present middle imperative), “Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” The Greek word for “provision” is pronoia, which is a compound word with the prefix pro, meaning “before,” and the verb noeo, “to think.” The expression in this verse literally means, “give no forethought to” those things of the flesh.
The challenge that the devil throws in the path of every Christian (and non-Christian, as well) is “the flesh.” “The lust of the flesh” is in his arsenal at every turn (1 John 2:16), in order that we might “fulfill its desires.” It is impossible for us to “live according to the flesh” and “live according to the Spirit” at the same time (Rom. 8:1-14), but this is much more than just the actions that we take. In Romans 13:14, God calls upon us to not even let our thoughts wonder over into the arena of the flesh. By letting our minds dwell upon the passions and desires of this world, we are, in essence, planning ahead (and giving forethought) to how we might fulfill those carnal cravings. But the Lord knows that if we cut off the thoughts “before” we can “think” them that we cannot then sin against Him. Thus, we must “have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24). Have you done that? Or are you still letting those passions and desires live in your heart?
The first part of this instruction in Romans 13:14 states, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Place this in contrast with the second part of the verse. Rather than think on the things of the flesh, God expects me to make a determined choice to think the way Christ thought (Phil. 2:5-8) and to live the way Christ lived (1 Pet. 2:21). I must clothe myself with the Lord—not just on the outside (as we might sometimes picture clothing), but on the very deepest parts of the inside of my heart. How do I do that?
I must bathe myself in His word (Psa. 119). I must not allow myself to be conformed to the fleshly lusts of this world (1 Pet. 2:9). I must love what He loves, want what He wants, hate what He hates, etc. Rather than allowing my heart to plan ahead to fulfill fleshly desires, I need to find joy in planning ahead to fulfill godly desires and make provision for Him!