The flesh tends to stop us from accepting the free gift of God's love and covenant; it will accept--but with conditions. It must have time to make itself ready with dedications, promises to be godlier and disciplined--all of which will be in place tomorrow or next week. In doing so, the flesh will have produced a cause for receiving the promises of the covenant by a process in which it is still very much in control, determining when we are ready and when we are worthy to receive the covenant. Religious flesh must stay in control at any cost. To confront the reality of the unconditional love of God that has given all in Christ means death to the flesh. ~ Malcolm Smith