The Battle between the Flesh and the Spirit – kenbarnes.us
The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41 ESV)
Recognizing our clay feet is the first step in having victory over flesh.
Recently, on my way to Church, the battle between the flesh and the spirit played out. I changed lanes on the expressway ahead of an oncoming vehicle. I had plenty of room to move over, but I guess I may have been going too slow for him because he started to ride my tail. He was so close I could almost see his facial features. Finally, he pulled around me, and as he passed me, he came as close to the driver’s side of my car as he could. He was making a statement. When his back bumper cleared the front of my car, I lay on my horn, which was not sending a friendly little reminder. If a horn could speak, it would have said, don’t do that again, jerk. The flesh is weak, my friends.
I lead Communion at my Church. The following Sunday, before Communion, I told them how, coming to lead Holy Communion, I committed a somewhat unholy act. Humility is recognizing our humanity. Owning up to the fact that we all have clay feet is the first step in defeating what the Bible calls the old man. The Apostle Paul had this dilemma. He said in Romans 7:15 ESV, For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Remember at the Cross you were delivered from the penalty of sin, and after the Cross you are being, present tense, delivered from the power of sin, and one day when we see Jesus, we will be delivered from the presence of sin.
It’s a process where our position in Christ becomes more aligned with our practice in Christ. Transformation happens as we take responsibility when the old man raises his ugly head. Sometimes it’s two steps forward and one step backwards, which is okay if it is not one step forward and two steps backwards. God does not expect perfection, but he does expect progress. As long as you and I are in this mortal body, there will be a sign on our backs that says, don’t be surprised, I am still under construction.
