Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41
Our annual conference is coming up in a few months, and it is always a happy time. Not only do we get wonderful times of fellowship with the Lord’s people but we also get excellent ministry from capable and exercised brethren. As we listen, we find ourselves encouraged and uplifted, and urged on to better service for our Lord. There are always resolutions to take the ministry to heart and live out the Word in our lives. But a month after the conference is over, most of what we heard is forgotten, Why? Today’s text tells us why.
Willing spirits and weak bodies make a poor pair, it seems. We do want to be good followers of the Lord Jesus, just as the disciples wanted. But we are living in unredeemed bodies that are so easily affected by the environment. We find excuses for not doing much – too cold in winter, too hot in summer, too wet in spring, and too busy harvesting in the fall. The frailties of the flesh take away all of the zeal and eagerness of our spirit, and we just don’t get to where we planned to go for the Lord. That’s why we need the first part of our text.
Watch and pray: an excellent motto for a Christian’s life! You and I need constant vigilance as we live in a world that seeks to destroy our testimony. We need to be ever aware of the fiery darts of the devil. We need to be alert to those things that would rob us of our communion with God and our usefulness for Him. We need to watch, not only for ourselves, but also for our families and our Assembly. We need to be careful about our companions, our entertainment, and our choices. We need to watch, to avoid falling into temptation. We also need to pray. The channel of communication with our God must remain open. We need to confess our sins, and entreat the Lord for strength and courage. We need to intercede for the unsaved, bear before the Throne of Grace the needs of the Lord’s people, and commit our ways unto Him.
The weakness of our flesh can be overcome if we maintain our spirit’s willingness with watchfulness and prayer. -Jim MacIntosh