Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." English Standard Version (ESV)
In today's passage Jesus withdraws with His inner circle of disciples and asks them to pray for Him while He went off to pray to the Father about the upcoming arrest and trial. The disciples were tired and fell asleep. Jesus gives them the instruction to watch and pray, it is a command which demands action. We are to have an active faith, with our eyes open to what is going on while praying, asking for guidance and direction for the course of our lives.
Many in the church today consider their faith to be more passive. They have their insurance policy for going to heaven and don't tend to worry or think much about "watching and praying".
One of my favorite authors and pastors from the last century, A. W. Tozer writes, "I regret that more and more Christian believers are being drawn into a hazy, fuzzy kind of teaching that assures everyone who has ever "accepted Christ" that he or she has nothing more to be concerned about. He is OK and he will always be OK because Christ will be returning before things get too tough. Then all of us will wear our crowns, and God will see that we have cities to rule over! If that concept is accurate, why did our Lord take the stern and unpopular position that Christian believers should be engaged in watching and praying?"
What about us? How "active" is our faith, would watching and praying describe our daily activity of following Jesus? May we not be "as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire" (v.41 The Message) but have our eyes wide open to what is going on around us, watching and praying, making the most of it, "redeeming the time", while we wait for His return.
Ephesians 5:15-16 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
New King James Version (NKJV)
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
Matthew 26:38-46The Message (MSG)
36-38 Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, "Stay here while I go over there and pray." Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, "This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me."
39 Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, "My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what doyou want?"
40-41 When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."
42 He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, "My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I'm ready. Do it your way."
43-44 When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn't keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.
45-46 When he came back the next time, he said, "Are you going to sleep on and make a night of it? My time is up, the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the hands of sinners. Get up! Let's get going! My betrayer is here."
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