THE
REALITIES OF THE FLESH!
Matt
26:40-41
40
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep,
and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak.
The
disciples had marched the dusty road to Gethsemane. The dirt, like
cool powder, soothed their weary feet. Finding a comfortable place, they
stretched out on the rocks and wrapped themselves in the dew of evening. Jesus
separates Peter, James and John then says to the others: “Stay here while I go
yonder and pray.”
It
had been a difficult day. Their minds still were trying to process the
announcement that Jesus was going to die. Maybe he was speaking metaphorically.
Then there was the strange twist to the familiar supper when Jesus offered the
bread and declared that it was his body. Then he offered the cup and declared
that it was his blood. What could that mean? A yawn and a stretch and soon the
three that was closest to Him fell fast asleep. Following this man was
exhausting work.
Gal
5:17
17
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and
these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that
ye would.
There are some harsh realities of the flesh. Our bodies, at the same time,
make it possible for us to serve God and resist the rigors of the service. Our
bodies prefer comfort and must be dragged along on the journey at times.
Discipline is both difficult and necessary if we are to accomplish our
spiritual goals.
1
Cor 9:27
27
But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by
hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel
and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test,
be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].
AMPLIFIED
NEW TESTAMENT
Dear
Lord, give me the courage to refuse my body the pampering it demands so that I
might accomplish your purposes today. AMEN
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