Father, tonight I just want to thank You for the gifts of strength and tenacity. Quite often we get bombarded with things that want to tear us down spiritually and if we’re not careful we can fall. I praise Your Name because I have been able to stand firm. I am weak but I am so grateful that You are strong!
Mark 14:32-42 (<<click to read the passage)
I was a fairly decent student in school – not stellar by any means, but decent. One of my biggest problems in college was not putting the bulk of my time and energy in early for big projects but trying to cram everything into the last few days.
I think it was my senior year and I had a big paper due. I had chosen some relatively obscure composer and his works from centuries ago about which to write (I was a Church Music major). Of course, this before personal computers and the like so I had all kinds of note cards and photocopies of people and musical examples. I was in way over my head! I never did finish it. I had gone beyond the point of no return – too little, too late. But I turned in what I had and probably only because of the grace of my professor (and God!) it was enough to get me a passing grade!
The disciples had been given ample time to prepare for what was now upon them. And Jesus had shared with them numerous times about what was going to transpire. This same evening, they had once again been forewarned. But did they heed His warning? Even when Jesus was in dire need of their support and friendship on top of His warning, they literally fell asleep on Him!
In the Amplified Bible, verses 41 and 42 read,
He came back a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough [of that]! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is near!”
Enough [of that]! The hour has come. Just moments before, verse 38 tells that He had specifically said to Peter,
“Keep [actively] watching and praying so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
They had gone beyond the point of no return. Their time for preparation for the big test was gone. And their preparation was severely lacking… And as foretold, they all would fall…
Lord Jesus, I’m probably talking to a wall – even when talking to myself – but please help us to be prepared. We know not the day or the hour but even in our daily lives, we need to be able to function effectively as Your ambassadors. People’s eternal souls are in jeopardy and we may be their last link to You! May we take our responsibilities to heart and may we not be found sleeping! Amen.
July 31st, 2019, Wed, 8:17 pm
