August 20 Sweet Rest

Luke 22:45-46 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” 
 
PERHAPS you have felt, “I have no energy, no strength to pray. I am too overwhelmed.” That seems to be the disciples’ spiritual state. “Exhausted from sorrow” they turned to sleep for rest and even for escape from the turmoil disturbing their hearts. Easier it was to lie down to sleep than to stand and wage the battle.
    Hear this instruction from Proverbs 3:21-26 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; 24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. 
    Do you hear the rest that comes in the Lord’s truth? Jesus, of course, knew how Satan would sift and tempt his disciples. As Jesus needed strength from the Father, his disciples needed the same. They had years to live under temptation’s menace. Weariness would often overwhelm them. On many days to come, they would surely be tempted to lie down spiritually exhausted and sleep amid the oppression confronting them.
    As Satan entered the Garden of Eden to destroy God’s perfect creation, he entered the Garden of Gethsemane to abolish God’s plan for a new creation. But unlike Adam, Jesus was wide awake. Christ would not allow the Liar to destroy the Truth. He rebuked his sleeping disciples and commanded them to alertly defend their souls to prepare to proclaim the gospel’s victory.
    Throughout the centuries, though, Jesus’ church has failed to heed his urgent warning. We have fallen asleep too often and for too many years. Satan has had his way. “Why are you sleeping?” church of God? Your Lord wants to know. What will you say to him? The Spirit implores, “Get up so that you will not fall into temptation.” 
    Yes, get up and defend the Lord! Build a legacy of alertness into the next generations. Be active, forceful and faithful against Satan’s tempting sleep. Do not fall into temptation, but keep your purpose in mind. One day the work will be done, and when you lie down (with Jesus), your sleep will be sweet.
 
Prayer: Wake me up, Spirit, to resist evil, to defend God’s knowledge and to declare the truth. In Christ I pray. Amen.