“The Hour Is At Hand”

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

Matthew 26:36-46

Even when we know that God’s way is best for us, we may still struggle to obey Him. When Christ our Savior faced the horrible reality of bearing our sins on the cross, He agonized in prayer. Jesus wanted the will of God to be done, not His own will. At the every end of our lives, we will be judged. We can send ourselves to heaven or we can send ourselves to hell. God does not do that. We choose where we will spend eternity, based on our lives. If we acknowledge His will, we know where we will go. If we do not acknowledge His will, He knows where we will go. God will allow us to suffer the consequences of our will, instead of His will.

Surrender to God now. You will have His assurance that His will is best for us. There is victory in surrender when the conqueror is Christ.

Our Daily Bread – July 21, 2005