SUNDAY - The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak

Matthew 26:41

“...the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

In one pithy statement Jesus pinpoints the difference between his faithful obedience and the disciple’s stumbling. The disciples didn’t have the willpower, strength, or innate ability to obey the Father on their own, no matter how much they wanted it. This has always been true of humanity: we can’t work our way to the perfect obedience the Father deserves, no matter how much we want it. Even face-to-face with the perfect example Jesus laid out and listening to his direct command, his disciples couldn’t parrot his obedience.

As we consider the night of Jesus’ betrayal and look toward the cross, we can’t escape our need for the cross. Even as Christians historically fast and seek God during Lent, our best religious devotion shows us how short we fall of God’s holiness. Our spirits may be willing, in some way, to obey God and walk in righteousness, but we can’t actually do it on our own. That’s the point of the cross! As we approach Good Friday and Easter, let’s turn our whole, willing, and weak selves to the savior who came for us.

Prayer:

Father, I come to you in my weakness. I want to want you more than I do, I want to follow you more than I can by my own efforts, and I want to walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel. Please meet me in my weakness and show me how your grace is sufficient for me.

Question to Consider:

Where have I been trying to will my way towards obedience, relying on my own strength to obey? Where am I discouraged or disillusioned because of the past failures of my willpower? How can I take these to the cross today?