“His Abide”
Reading Reflecting Responding
To
God’s Word
Context: Matthew 26
Focus: Matthew 36-46

by
Writing it All Down

“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matthew 26:41

When Jesus went to the olive grove- Gethsemane, to pray, He brought three of His disciples with Him.
Jesus was in anguish and deeply distressed and told them His soul was crushed with grief to the point of death. So He told them to keep watch with Him and pray. Then Jesus went off a little farther by Himself, praying for the Father to take away His cup of suffering if it were possible. Yet, He said, He wanted to do the Father’s Will.  When He returned to His disciples He found them sleeping.  He asked, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?” He alerted them to stay awake and pray so they would not fall into temptation, saying, ” The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”  Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.”  Again, He returned to His disciples and found them still sleeping. So He went to pray a third time, saying the same things. When He went to check on His disciples they were again, asleep, and so He let them rest, but suddenly, He announced, His time had come to be betrayed, and exclaimed, “Look, my betrayer is Here!”

I believe the Holy Spirit will alert us to the temptation of complacency in our spiritual walk. But in our daily living, we need to be cognizant of His promptings. It is possible to fall asleep and not be alert to the temptations that wait. Satan is like a lion crouching to pounce on its prey.  Jesus, knowing what lay ahead, and aware of the weakness of the flesh, attempted to warn His disciples three times.  It reminds me of how also Peter who was overconfident in His faith, denied His Lord and Savior three times.

It is just impossible to overcome our flesh in our own strength so it is imperative we abide in Jesus Christ, not some of the time, but always. When we are in constant prayer and on alert, we are also strengthened and prepared. Even Jesus who was both man and God needed the ministering Angel’s strength. ( Luke 22: 41-43)

The eyes of the Lord are upon us, ever interceding, at the right hand side of the Father, but we must not take His warnings for granted. Let us not be complacent, but ready.
He’s coming soon!

My Response: (Prayer)
Lord, your Word is Truth, thank you for keeping us aware concerning the things ahead. Keep us in your Word, Lord, keep us in prayer.

CR – Philippians 4: 13, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Peter 1:13,
1 Corinthians 16:13 Romans 13:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, Matthew 24:43,
Romans 7:24-25

“Yes, Come Lord Jesus, Come Quickly!”

How to Abide in “His Word”