The Flesh Is Weak
Benjamin Tomczak
If it feels good, do it. Right?
You hear it in Nike's "Just do it!" slogan, in music like Limp Bizkit's "My Way," and in shows like "Survivor."
If it feels good, do it. Do whatever gives you pleasure.
We often listen to this message. We often do what makes us feel good. Despite the faith the Holy Spirit put in our hearts. Just like Jesus' original disciples.
The spirit is willing
Jesus' disciples often proclaimed, "We will never desert you! We will never betray you! You are the Christ! We will fight for you!"
But the disciples also did what felt good. They argued over who would be greatest, fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane, denied Jesus, betrayed him, and fled from his captors. They didn't listen when Jesus said, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (Mark 14:38).
The disciples were willing in spirit. Peter drew his sword for the Lord. James and John both promised to drink from the same cup as the Lord. But when the time came to put up or shut up, the disciples shut up.
We are Jesus' disciples-the bad
We are Jesus' disciples too. We have heard his message and we believe it: Jesus did everything we needed done-for us he fulfilled the law, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Like those disciples, we are to spread that message.
The similarities don't end there. Like the Twelve, our spirit is often willing, but our flesh is weak.
In high school and college-even in Lutheran ones-temptations are all too apparent. Jobs lure us away from time in the Word. Friends say, "Hey, it's just one drink." Relationships get serious and the world screams, "If you're in love... DO IT!"
If it feels good, do it. We hear it. We often obey it.
We are Jesus' disciples-the good
Thankfully, the disciples' lives didn't end with their betrayal and cowardice. Those same men who fled from Jesus' captors became heroes of faith.
Just as their story turned out for good, ours can too if we remember two things. First, the Law. Paul reminded Timothy that men and women who gave into their desires "have wandered from the faith and have pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:11b). By disobeying God's law, we bring problems on ourselves.
Second, the joyous Gospel. Jesus who "suffered when he was tempted, . . . is able to help those who are being tempted¼. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin" (Hebrews 2:18, 4:15). Jesus withstood every temptation, so we aren't alone when facing temptation. Go to him when you're tempted.
The devil wants to lure us away from Christ. He'll use music, movies, television, friends, books, games. But we have the cross of Christ to forgive us when we fail and to strengthen us when we're tempted. Cling to that and you can't go wrong.
That's what truly feels good. Do that.