DAILY DEVOTION - July 8, 2008
By Dave Wager
Matthew 26:36-46
Then Jesus brought them to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, "Sit here while I go on ahead to pray." [37] He took Peter and Zebedee's two sons, James and John, and he began to be filled with anguish and deep distress. [38] He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me."
[39] He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine." [40] Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even one hour? [41] Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!"
[42] Again he left them and prayed, "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away until I drink it, your will be done." [43] He returned to them again and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't keep their eyes open.
[44] So he went back to pray a third time, saying the same things again. [45] Then he came to the disciples and said, "Still sleeping? Still resting? Look, the time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners. [46] Up, let's be going. See, my betrayer is here!"
Sometimes I just do not get it. In fact, I sleep rather than being diligent. I rest rather than be looking out. I seek my own comfort and ways, rather than struggle with ways that I know need struggling with. I would be disgusted with the picture Christ painted in this passage if it were not so true about me.
There have been many times where I have read a book or heard a sermon that I was extremely excited about, and I shared the information with someone else, just to see them yawn and place the information I had found so intriguing on the “pile” of “Someday I will read or listen to” material. When this happens I want to shake that individual and somehow force them to “get it” and “get it” now!
I am sure that God has felt that way about me as He has tried to communicate some wonderful truths to me and I have yawned or become enveloped with what I was presently about to the exclusion of His promptings.
God, help me to see what it is you are trying to say and grasp the importance of your message even to the exclusion of my thoughts, ideas, comfort, and agendas.
I know You have a plan today. Help me to see and plug into what You are doing, even if understanding it makes me sweat drops of blood in my attempts to be obedient.
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