THE WORD 4 ev 1

Today’s reading is Luke 22 (click here for link).

“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:39-44

Jesus' prayer reminds me of another prayer prayed by a struggling apostle in throws of uncertainty and anguish: The apostle Paul wrote: “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Have you ever had an earnest prayer go unanswered? … a prayer cried out in those moments of life when life and death seemed to hang in the balance, but God’s will was against your own?

It takes a mighty faith to endure coming up against the holy will of almighty God and discovering it is not in accord with your own; to find that your vein of payer is perpendicular to the inscrutable hand of God. But mettle must be tested. The perseverance of faith is either always sharpened or always dulled upon that stone of experience.

Don’t dare utter the words, “I live my life for the Glory of God,” unless you mean it… unless you are ready to truly “feel” it. He may hold you to your words! God’s greatest glory is always revealed in human weakness. The cross of Christ is proof enough of that.

To be saved by grace is to abandon all that we see as strength and cling to the weakness of Jesus Christ, crucified but raised in power and glory for us… for you….

*****

I wrote the above words last night as I sleepily meditated upon Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. This morning, at our staff meeting, Pastor Jon opened with a question concerning the difference between “Vision” and “Mission” in the Church and in the Christian’s life. Indeed, there is a distinction. We so easily get caught up in the “mission work” (doing things) that perhaps we lose sight of the vision of inspiration that came over us once upon a time ago. The true vision of the Christian life is realization of complete abandon to divine grace. That God so loved “me” that he gave his only begotten Son. Wow!!!

Grace empowers us to do all things good and right, but in the experience, we realize our weakness all the more and find our strength in the power of grace made perfect in us through Christ, alone.

How has he given you strength in the weaknesses of your life?
Pastor Aaron