Stay Awake

Today’s Bible Reading:  Deuteronomy 5-6, Psalm 43, Mark 14

Topic: Spiritual Awareness

SCRIPTURE:  Mark 14:38

   

³⁸ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”   (Mark 14:38 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

Previous to Jesus speaking these words, He had informed His disciples that one of them would betray Him.  Their first response was for each of them to wonder if they could possibly be the one (vv. 18-19).  A little later that evening Jesus told them that they all would stumble and flee Him.  Their response to this was that they would all stand by Him and die with Him (vv. 27-31).  He then went to the Garden of Gethsemane and asked them to watch and pray, but they all fell asleep (vv. 32-41).

APPLICATION:

I say I love the Lord and will serve Him no matter what.  I say I will stand up for and even die for my faith in Him.  Yet, deep inside, I wonder, like the disciples, could I possibly betray or deny Him to save my own flesh?  My spirit is indeed willing, but my flesh is weak.  How can I combat the weakness of my flesh?  Jesus says the way to do that—to keep the spirit stronger than the flesh—is to “watch and pray” (v. 38).  I must not be oblivious to what is going on around me (sleeping); I must be alert (awake) and pray.

PRAYER:

Lord, I am willing.  Help me in my weakness.

In the strength and power of Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.  -AP