Desire and Lust

The foundation of any relationship is love. Without this there is only the mutual self interest of two people. Where there is love there is true relationship as opposed to two egos merely using each other.

The circumcision of the flesh means bringing the flesh under the control of the Spirit. It does not mean the death of the flesh, but only it's subservience to the dictates of the Spirit. And what is the Spirit if not true love ( and intelligence and freedom).

In modern times we are surrounded by beautiful and attractive people. We ask ourselves "should I desire her?" "Is it right to feel this strong desire?" Such inner forces as desire are like energy unleashed.

Yet God commands that we control and channel this energy by bringing it under the command of love. The containment of forces that would otherwise explode.

The sons of God are those who have circumcised the flesh - bringing their appetites into line with the Spirit. Circumcision was the most powerful symbol of this.

Lust Unleashed

If a man desires every attractive woman, then he wants to sleep with every attractive woman. One follows from the other. This has several effects -

• Being attracted to every attractive woman uses up a lot of energy
• It generates a great deal of frustration since he cannot have every attractive woman.
• It erodes his peace, since he is continually pulled towards one person then another

Appetite controls the man rather than man controlling the appetite. Man is reduced to a reactive role - "I had to do it" - driven by compulsion, rather than the active role of someone possessing true freedom. He reacts rather than acts. We have all heard the phrase "thinking with his pants rather than his head". He is not in control - he is driven by desire.

The Peace Within

The control of desire implies a degree of freedom from it's compulsion. It implies that an inner peace is possible - that there is a core place within each of us that we can act from without compulsion. This place, by definition, must be a place of complete peace and tranquillity - a tranquil garden, a lake of glass.

How do we find this place of peace and tranquillity? When we claim our freedom to act rather than react. When we put Love first. When we think with a clear intellect.

Creation itself is the product of the free acts of God, guided by intelligent design and a heart of love. Creation did not produce God - rather God produced creation. The natural order of things is that Freedom, Love and Intelligence are the source and foundation of all that is - giving nature it's shape and order . Mind precedes matter, and is master of matter. The flesh is subservient to mind and shaped by it's purposes - and the purpose is Love.

The true marriage of flesh and spirit. The pacifying of rage. The taming of energies to their true master - the heart of love, the will to freedom, and the wisdom of pure intelligence.