11/07/2024
Do we consistently obey even the most trivial things that God requires of us? Do we understand the danger of falling asleep while on watch? How can we combat our inattention and a drowsiness of faith?
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
On the night of His betrayal Jesus took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane where He would pray. He gave them a very simple, yet important, task to perform... He asked them to "remain here and watch with me" (Mat 36:38). Then he went a little further away to pray. After praying for a while Jesus returned to find the three asleep... they were not watching as He had instructed them. So He tells them again to "watch and pray"... He tells them to lean on the strength of their spirit and acknowledges that their human flesh is too weak to do this job alone.
“And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."”
Matthew 26:40-41 ESV
Jesus goes to pray a second time, but when He returns they are asleep yet again. So He wakes them and gives them His instructions once more. Then He goes to pray a third time.
“And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.”
Matthew 26:43-44 ESV
When Jesus returns the third time, He informs the three that the soldiers are coming; He must tell them this because they were asleep again.
In our lives we often find ourselves asleep when we should be watching. Are we watching intently for the return of Jesus, or has the night wooed us into sleep? Listen to the words He spoke to us regarding His coming...
“Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake."”
Mark 13:33-37 ESV
"Stay awake", are we truly doing that? When the cock crows each morning are we expecting the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ, or is it just another day? Are we keeping watch, or are we asleep at our post? We should be constantly vigilant... we should be waiting with anticipation for the immanent return of Jesus. Was that a trumpet I just heard?... no, not yet, but let's keep listening, let's stay on guard for the moment of His arrival, and not let Him find us asleep.
Peter slept in the garden, and then denied Jesus three times before the cock crowed, and yet Jesus said of him...
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18 ESV
Peter slept in the Garden, and also denied Jesus out of his human frailty, but He had something more that caused Jesus to call him the rock... he had faith and the understanding that Jesus was the Christ and the Son of God. Was Jesus telling us that He would build His church on human frailty, or rather on the faith that would overcome it? I believe that, in Peter, He was showing us that our faith could overcome our weaknesses and become the rock on which our salvation would be founded.
So this morning we pray, and study the Word as we build our faith, and strengthen our relationship with God through Jesus. Today, we will stay awake and watch for the return of Christ, and claim Him, without fail, as our Lord. Throughout the day we will remain firm in our belief, our relationship with God, and our faith in the very cornerstone, and foundation, of our salvation.
Prayer:
Thank you Father for giving us the strength and resolve it takes to remain awake as we watch intently for the return of your Son Jesus to claim us. Thank you for the prayers we pray, and for hearing us say “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”. Father thank you for letting us know that you are with us and that your breath of life is in us, and surrounds us without fail. Father, hear our prayers this morning and strengthen us, even as you did Peter. Lord, let our prayers find rest in you and not sleep in this, the time of our watch. Lord keep us close and give us the courage to claim your Son Jesus, even in times when doing so seems dangerous. Send your Holy Spirit to enlighten us as to the truth in your Word, so that we find strength, and armor there with which to stand guard as we faithfully await the return of Our Savior. Yet, if we should fall asleep, Lord arouse us, and if you must awaken us then not only give us fresh instruction, but strengthen us further that we might serve you better. Father, don't allow our human frailty to defeat us, but give us victory in Jesus, our faith, and your forgiveness, by your grace. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God whose Son is coming, and coming at a time that we are not privy to. Holy are you whose Word thrills us, and who desires us to be ever vigilant as we stand on the wall of Jerusalem and await Jesus’ return. Today and all days hear us pray… “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
Revelation 22:20-21 ESV
“Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.”
Mark 13:33 ESV
“So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.”
1 Thessalonians 5:6
Rich Forbes