From Kent: I’m back, after my computer crashed and I spent some time wondering if I would be able to use it at all. . . again. Tad frustrating!
Neal A. Maxwell wrote in his book ‘Men and Women of Christ:’
“Just as Jesus warned that some evil spirits would not come out except by “prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21), so the natural man does not come off without difficulty, either.
As regards to this personal battle, the Lord has urged us to so live that we will “come off conqueror”. But we cannot come off conqueror” except we put off the selfish, natural man.
The natural man is truly God’s enemy, because the natural man will keep God’s precious children from true and everlasting happiness. Our full happiness requires our becoming the man or woman of Christ.
The meek men or women of Christ are quick to praise but are also able to restrain themselves. They understand that on occasion the biting of the tongue can be as important as the gift of tongues.
The man or woman of Christ are easily entreated, but the selfish person is not. Christ never brushed aside those in need because he had bigger things to do. Further the men and women of Christ are constant, being the same in private as in public. We cannot keep to sets of books while heaven has but one.
Where as the natural man vents his anger, the men and women of Christ are “not easily provoked” (1 Corinthians 13:5). Where as the natural man is filled with greed, the men and women of Christ seeketh not [their] own (1 Corinthians 13:5).
. . . . One of the last, subtle strongholds of selfishness in that natural feeling that we “own” ourselves. Of course we are free to choose and are personally accountable. Yes, we have individuality. But those who have chosen to “come unto Christ” soon realize they do not own themselves. Indeed, they belong to Him! We are to become consecrated along with our gifts, our appointed days, and our very selves. Hence there is a stark difference between stubbornly “owning” oneself and submissively belonging to God. Clinging to the old self is not a mark of independence but indulgence.” ~Neal A. Maxwell, Men and Women of Christ (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft 1991), 13-14
(Posts with a preamble asterisk * are for a more general audience, and not specific to teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)
