DEVOTION

Theme: Gethsemane!

Text: Matthew 26:36-46

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

The garden of Gethsemane is full of lessons to be learnt both from the Saviour and the wearied disciples. The purpose of heading to Gethsemane is to pray however, it was only the Saviour that prayed. Lessons from Gethsemane:

1. Pray when you're distressed. Christ has set the example that if you're surrounded by sorrow, pain, confusion, overstressed and don't know what to do, just pray. Speak to God about the situation.

2. Pray the Father's will be done. You can ask the Father anything but always ask His will be done. Christ wished the cup (His death) could pass Him by, but not according to His will, but that of the Father's. For three times He had prayed the will of God be done in His life. Dear beloved in the Lord, pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

3. Watch and pray. The Christian must be spiritually alert to flee from temptation (1 Peter 5:8-11).

4. There's an hour for everything. Every hour counts in our lives. There's no need to give room for idleness, sluggishness, procrastination and anything that steals our time while on this earth. Cease every minute to do the right thing ( Psalm 90:12; Ecclesiastes 3).

Prayer: Unto You alone o God I submit to. Thanks for teaching and leading me to Your marvelous glory. Strengthen me to stand firm in all things in Jesus' name. AMEN!