READING: John 18:1-2, Mark 14:32-42, Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46, Mark 14:43-52, Matthew 26:47-56, Luke 22:47-53, John 18:3-24
Just saying we want to be faithful to Jesus—even when we mean it—is not a guarantee we will have no struggle. Sometimes our faith is weak. At other times, the enemy is simply sifting us because we have chosen to follow Christ. At still other times, we’re ill prepared to follow Him faithfully because we’re unaware of the dangers that lurk ahead of us.
That’s where the disciples were in the Garden. Jesus knew what awaited them, but they did not fully know what was next. They would be tempted to run, to flee, to deny even knowing Jesus after He was arrested—and Jesus knew they needed to pray lest they succumb to that temptation. They may have wanted to follow Him in their spirit, but their flesh was weak. Indeed, they slept when they should have been praying.
When Jesus confronted them, in fact, they did not know what to say. I’ve been there—my guard down, my obedience incomplete, my ears not listening, my heart misfocused, my flesh winning even when I knew better. In those times, I have nothing to say except, “Forgive me, Lord.”
PERSONAL REFLECTION: How weak are you in your flesh?
DAILY PRAYER: “Father, make my spirit and my flesh willing to follow You even in the midst of struggle.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Mark 14:53-65, Matthew 26:57-68, Mark 14:66-72, Matthew 26:69-75, Luke 22:54-62, John 18:25-27, Mark 15:1, Matthew 27:1-2, Luke 22:66-71, Matthew 27:3-10
