Watch and Pray …

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

The scene described by the gospel writers as they were moved by the Spirit of God to pen their words is one that will always be one of intrigue! Here we find Jesus with a few of His chosen disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane about to begin a whirlwind of activity that would ultimately lead to Jesus’ betrayal by Judas, false and erroneous trials and then the infamous struggle up Golgotha’s hill to die on the Cross that He had to bear …because of mankind’s sins!

The words of Jesus were simple and profound, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” Jesus was warning them about the very real need to be aware, to be alert and to be prepared for the perpetual spiritual attacks of their adversary and yes, our adversary as well! Every one of us understands what our own tendencies, weaknesses, inclinations, and shortcomings are, don’t we? Just take a minute or two and think about these truths, would you? Isn’t it so that if we give ourselves permission to even consider or get close to these spiritual traps, that not only are we most vulnerable, but if we don’t back away, turn the other way, run … SNAP goes the trap! And then, we find ourselves doing the very thing we say we abhor. The immaturity in us is like a child that wants instant gratification followed by the more mature aspect in us that walks away from the carnage shaking our head in disbelief and disappointment.

Each one of us … you and me … needs to take the words of Jesus and lay them upon our heart. Be alert … be prayerful … stay away from all that influences you to turn from God. Close the door on temptation every time it knocks today, and recite a Scripture you have stored in your heart for such occasions. And then, do the same thing tomorrow!

Bill Fairchild, Jr.