This morning, while at work, I was having an emotional breakdown. I'm talking full out ugly cry. I was throwing a spiritual temper tantrum and God whipped me right into shape within minutes. I kept telling God that He needed to release me from the assignment that He had placed me on. It went from asking to begging. Then from begging to telling. I was determined that He was going to allow me to walk away from the situation..... Not the response I received. All He said was...
Gethsemane
I grabbed Joseph's tablet and started looking for the story that we find in Matthew 26:36-44. Once I pulled it up, I was in for the smack in the face that was so well deserved.
vs 38 - Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.
Have you EVER been there? Overwhelmed to the point of death? I'm sure you've felt like it, I know I sure have. I literally have just wanted to roll over and die because it seemed easier. God got on me and said, "No, you are to follow Christ's example." If we go further to vs 39 we see what Jesus did.
vs 39 - Going to the Father, he fell with his face to the ground and prayer, "My Father, if it be possible, may this cup be taken from me." STOP
Jesus didn't want to go through what he was facing. I don't think any of us would. If you know anything about this portion of scripture, you know that Jesus was getting ready to be crucified on the cross. He was asking God to take it from him. He wanted the cup to be taken. How many times in our own lives are we given instructions to do things we don't want to do or we don't think we are capable of? The beautiful thing is that's not where that scripture stops.
Vs 39 pt 2 - Yet not as I will, but as you will.
Jesus was perfect. Jesus knew that even if he didn't want to do it that he was going to be obedient and do it anyway. After this conversation with God in the garden of Gethsemane, he KNEW for sure that it was God's will for his life to be sacrificed to save the lives of millions to come. Jesus went down to check on his disciples and they were all snoozing on the job.
vs 41 - Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
COME ONE! Keep watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. It would be so easy for us to just be disobedient and walk away from the instructions that God has given us. Sometimes the instructions that God gives us is hard and terrifying. We have to be alert and of sober mind. Our enemy is just looking for someone to take out. (1 Peter 5:8) The spirit is willing and the flesh is so weak. We have to be willing to stop feeding into our flesh so our spirit will be strong. I'm reminded of a story my mom used to tell me.
There are 2 dogs in a yard. Dog A is fed the best of food. He is walked every day. He is strong and healthy. He is trained. Dog B isn't fed anything but scraps. He isn't played with. He sits alone. If you let these 2 dogs go and placed them in a situation where they were required to fight, who would win? Dog A of course. He is prepared for the battle. He is ready to take on whatever is coming at him where as Dog B is lethargic and worn.
vs 42 He went away a second time STOP
I know that the Bible tells us not to doubt and I don't think Jesus went away a second time because he doubted. But I know a lot of times when I'm given direction I have to double check to make sure I'm on the right path. I do this in a lot of areas in my life.
vs 42 pt 2 - "My father if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
We have to be about our Father's business. Not our own. Yes, we do have free will but look what good that did for our friend Jonah. My friend put this up earlier and it couldn't have been more fitting.
"Choices are free so choose wisely because our choices will determine the outcome of our lives."
Theresa Moore
Jesus prayed a third time but he knew what he had to do. You know what YOU have to do. Whether it is black that phone number, delete that app, sell that program, stop making that company a priority in your life, stop watching those movies, or something else. You know what God has asked you to do. It's time for you to move and do it.
God does screw up ladies and gentlemen. He didn't take this cup from Jesus and look what it did for humanity. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that he knows the plans that he has for us. Plans to prosper us and not harm us. Luke 9:23 talks about the fact that if we want to be his disciples that we must deny ourselves and take up our cross daily. We have to deny our selfish ways, our fleshly desires, and our personal goals that don't line up with Gods will.
You are in your own way!
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