Watch and pray,

lest you enter into temptation.

The spirit indeed is willing,

but the flesh is weak.”

 (Matthew 26:41)

Christian, you and I are a fickle lot.  Webster’s dictionary defines fickle as “likely to change, instable,  changeable: not constant or loyal in affections.”  Sadly, it is true…we are fickle.

Consider the example we have of this fickleness in the disciples of Jesus on the Wednesday before He went to the cross. 

At one moment they are aware of how weak they are.  Jesus shared with His disciples that one of them would betray Him.   To a man, each of them responded to the Lord with a humble question:  “Lord, is it I?” (Mt 26:22).  For a moment, they each gaze into their own heart and wonder honestly if they are the one that in weakness will fail Jesus and betray Him.  It is a wonderful, honest and rightfully humble question.

Then next moment, they think they are strong.  This is on this same day, separated only by a short periods of time, they are all in a very different place.   Peter and all the rest of the disciples to a man will declare “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Mt 26:35)

In the text in Matthew, these two declarations are separated only by thirteen verses!   If  you did not know better, you would think that these declarations were from two different groups of people, they are so different in their declarations, attitudes and assertions.  Yet, the reality is that these are from the same people – just in two different states.  They were so fickle.

Sadly, you and I are just as fickle as the disciples.  I wonder, as I lay out this reality if you are not altogether familiar with the fickleness of your own flesh.  One moment you want to do good, to be good and do all that God would have for you.  Yet just a few moments later, your flesh fails and you find yourself pulling back from obedience, from surrender and being firm with God.  I wonder…if you have found the fickleness in your flesh this very day, this very week?

Take comfort in this reality Christian, you are not alone…it is the problem with each and every one of us.  We all live a “Jekyll and Hyde” kind of existence in our weakness.

So…what do we do about this problem – this fickle flesh?  What do we do about the reality that our flesh is weak?  Jesus tells us:

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mt 26:41)

First – Know your flesh is weak!  Don’t trust it, don’t lean on it on it. Don’t trust “the sweetest frame” of mind.  To lean on your own strength is folly and will let you down.

Second – Know that your spirit is willing and able.  What God has done in us as Christians, imbibing us with His Spirit and causing us to be born again – has produced a spiritual person in us.  That spiritual person is not weak, it is not fickle nor unable.  It is here that we need to live.

In John 15, Jesus describes this living in the Spirit as abiding in Him  – an amazing passage that calls us to abide in Him constantly – to live in constant relationship and dependence on Him.  It is the only way we can stand strong and do what God has for us.

Third – Watch.  Be on guard against trusting in your flesh all the time.  Know yourself and be aware of times when you find yourself trusting in yourself.  When you find such trust – warning lights should be sounding in your heart and head – warning you that your flesh is weak – don’t trust in it.  We you find yourself slipping because of trusting in your flesh – warning lights should immediately catch your attention.  Christian, Jesus calls us to watch – to watch for this.

Fourth  – Pray!  Prayer is the remedy and the prevention of this problem.   Prayer is the means by which we abide in Christ and thus rely on the Spirit.   Ultimately, God longs that we would “pray always” (Eph 6:10), and without ceasing (1Th 5:17).  Knowing our fickleness needs to cause us to pray, and rely not on ourselves…but on Him!  When we find ourselves slipping, falling or leaning towards trusting in ourselves – we need to intentionally pray and seek to rely on the Lord.

Christian, you and I are a fickle lot.  Did you know that?  Did you know that your flesh is weak?  If so, I call you to know you’re your spirit is strong, able and willing.  Today…I simply call you to watch and pray!

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mt 26:41)

Jim