Verse of the Day: Hebrews 12:1- Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Memory of the Month: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Today's reading: DEUTERONOMY 22-24 MARK 14:1-26
There's No Maybe To It
How long can humans stay awake? In 1965, a high school student stayed awake for 264 hours(about 11 days)to set a record for a science fair. He was serious.
What does it mean to take something seriously? To you, personally, what does it mean?
Three men, closer than all the others, went with Jesus: Peter, James, and John. But that is not all they did. After Jesus went off to pray, they went to sleep. Jesus woke them up and shamed them for going to sleep and went back to pray; they went back to sleep. Three times Jesus returned to find His three best friends asleep just before the pivotal point of God's plan for Jesus. Up until this point, Jesus was free. Shortly after His third return to His friends, Jesus was arrested and a prisoner.
We know all this. We are on this side of the history. We have read it and heard it forever in our lives and just maybe we are closer to the attitude of Peter, James, and John than we realize.
Maybe those three did realize the gravity of the whole situation, maybe not.(Maybe we do-maybe not). Maybe Peter, James, and John had listened closely to what Jesus had been saying and believed it and knew what was coming but were just so sleepy they could not stay awake. Maybe they had not taken Jesus seriously enough to this point and had looked at each other in the dark with a look more of exhaustion than urgency. They were together in their attitude, at least. ("Let's rest, this will blow over. He worries too much-let's get some sleep." It's easier to slip when you've got someone else to blame)
Why do you think this particular account of this point in the ministry of Jesus was recorded? Three guys going to sleep when they should have been praying? Death was coming for Jesus and they slept? They obviously had not taken it all seriously. There can be no other explanation. There is no maybe to it.
But why did God have it recorded? It is recorded for the same reason the story after this is recorded along with the remainder of the new testament. The servants of our living God are flawed. God works through flawed people who have regrets. Flawed people keep returning to God after a failure for restoration and forgiveness to learn how to be gravely serious-how to be forgiven much-how to come back after disappearing and see God continue to change the world through them-
John 10:28 ►I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Nowhere in history does a nap seem so sinful and thoughtless. But this nap of these three friends of Jesus is no worse than our 'everything's gonna pan out' attitude. "God's in control, no big deal."
Letting God drive does not mean we don't have to make the decisions of starting the car, putting it in gear, seeking maintenance and fuel-
We have heard this before: you don't have a baby and bring it home and leave it out on the lawn-
It is time for us to treat our souls like children who must be cared for. Feed, nurture, education, discipline-back off and look at the condition of your soul as you would a child-what does it need? You don't go to the store-you go to the storehouse-you go to God and ask Him the next step. You may not like what you hear at first. He may simply say,
"Asleep again-Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation."
Jesus will always restore us after we fail. No maybe to it.
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven,
Forgive me for making excuses. Give me clear vision to see the truth of my soul's condition and fill me with resolve to seek your restoration.
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