I love that Jesus ‘awakens’ his disciples. He doesn’t leave them in their weakness (sleep/off-guard); venerable to the enemy. Instead he warns them (us) of impending danger…falling into temptation because of weakness (flesh). [I think it is interesting that Jesus calls Peter by his first name ‘Simon’ (v37). Reminds me of how my mother would use my full name when she really wanted my attention.] And like a loving parent, Jesus gives disciples ample warning to watch and pray, but he also ‘puts his foot down’. Kind of says ‘disciples, grow up’, ‘get with the program’. “Enough!” There comes a time we must make the choice to be ‘active’ in this walk. Not just stand on the side lines and watch what happens. Comes a time to crack open the Word of God and let Him speak it into our hearts. Let the Holy Spirit lead and prompt us to be the hands, feet, and mouth of Jesus here on earth. Little fruit will we bear w/o prayer. It is not I who make things happen (lest I boast) – it is God who allows and provides, and gives me the privilege to be a part of His amazing story.

Bet you’re glad I don’t blog very often :-\

Peace.

So often, whether it’s when we first come to Christ or we are just picking ourselves back up, we feel strong, invincible even. We’ve finally learned how to do things right and would die before we betrayed our savior (again). But, we are frail and weak. We will eventually do what we swore we would never; in one way or another.

Notice how Jesus doesn’t tell Peter that it was better that he had never been born though. He betrayed Jesus, maybe not to the extreme of Judas, but just like Judas he forsook Jesus. But, I think the difference was in their hearts. Peter in his heart longed to step up and be that man of God, but his flesh wasn’t strong enough. It all comes down to our hearts.

I am thankful that God is big enough to know what we are made of and loving enough to forgive us. We will get stronger, like Peter later on, but we’ll never be perfect. It’s also important for us to remember what we’re made of. So, when we don’t live up to the expectations we’ve set for ourselves we don’t fall into the trap of giving up entirely. We’ll make mistakes, but as long as our heart always longs to do what God desires we’ll make it through, one stumbling step at a time.

In the garden at Gethsemane
He prayed for the life he’d never live,
He beseeched his Heavenly Father to remove
The cup of death from his lips

Now there’s a loss that can never be replaced
A destination that can never be reached,
A light you’ll never find in another’s face,
A Sea whose distance cannot be breached

Well Jesus kissed his mother’s hands
whispered. “Mother, still your tears,
for remember the soul of the universe
willed a world and it appeared.”

The soul of the Universe willed a world and it appeared….Amen