by Marilyn Ehle
“The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matthew 26:41
In, Revolution of Character, Dallas Willard writes, “Christians (who are being transformed) know that these words of Jesus are not a declaration about the inevitable condition of humans but a diagnosis of a condition to be corrected.” (emphasis mine). What glorious freedom comes from believing that our slow spiritual progress or our stumbling walk with Christ is not an inescapable and permanent state of being, but rather a “correctable” condition.
Willard in other works describes Christians as “apprentices” and in that word lies great hope for moving onward and upward as followers of Jesus. By definition an apprentice is “a learner of a craft, bound to serve, and entitled to instruction from his or her employer for a specified time.”
God has promised to be our teacher and supplies all we need, through His Word (the Bible) and through His Holy Spirit within us. The Apostle Paul’s apprentice attitude can be ours as we walk on with weak bodies but willing spirits: “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13).
Father, you know how often I use excuses to justify my sins, shortcomings and unwillingness to follow hard after you. Forgive me for focusing on myself instead of on you and all your provisions for me. Grant me grace to be a trainable apprentice.
You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2012/11/02/me_no-more-excuses/
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