Walking in the spirit and walking in the flesh

I was reminded of a thought today that is so important in our dealings with one another in the body of Christ.

It is a thought that one of my coaches gave me over 10 years ago:

Expect people to act in the flesh - and when they act in the spirit - rejoice.

We get into trouble (and project unrealistic expectations) upon followers of Christ around us when we our expectations of them (and they are really unrealistic) is that they do the godly thing or say the godly thing ALL THE TIME.

And then when they fail - we get blown out.  "How could they."  "They call themselves a ministry leader and they said (fill in the blank)?"  Or, "They are a pastor, and they did (fill in the blank)."

Expect people to act in the flesh - and when they act in the spirit - rejoice.

Now then, let me anticipate a question that you might have.  "Is that simply an excuse for bad behavior or ungodly actions?"  No, absolutely not.

Someone once said that an excuse is the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.

But I am simply reminding us today that we can't put one another on an unrealistic pedestal, so high that when the natural fleshy part of us comes out - we are neither shocked or let down.

We are all, and I mean all of us - we are all doing the best we can.

Perhaps once safe guard is to remind ourselves today of our own humanity - and be thankful for God's patience with us.

Just a thought for a Tuesday.