Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion covers Mark 14:32-42 which covers Jesus’ passion, pleadings, and prayers in Gethsemane.  We will focus on verse 38.

 

^“38  “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation;  the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Mark 14:38.

 

Like the disciples, we are prone to casualness and sleep.  We tend to let our guard down. 

 

We need to be reminded of 1 Peter 5:8:  “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

 

Even after Jesus successfully resisted the temptations by the devil during the forty days in the wilderness, Jesus could not relax, free from temptations.  “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.”  Luke 4:13  (Emphasis added.)  In other words, the devil went away for a while, but would come back when an opportunity presented itself (“an opportune time”). 

 

We may see others tempted and not feel tempted in the least, and we may smugly think that we are above and immune from such temptations.  However, we read:  “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”  1 Corinthians 10:12

 

In addition to our Scripture for today exhorting us to be on our guard and “Keep watching”, our Scripture exhorts us to keep “praying”.  Our model for prayer, The Lord’s Prayer, includes the prayer request: ” ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’ ”  Matthew 6:13

 

In addition to these two exhortations of what we should do (“Keep watching and praying”), there is much encouragement in Scripture about what God will do to help us.  Here are just a couple of examples.  You will think of more.

 

^“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”  1 Corinthians 10:13.

 

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One (Jesus Christ) who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:15-16. 

(Parenthetical identification is added.) 

 

1 John 2:1
“[Christ Is Our Advocate ]  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;”

 

We also have the Holy Spirit.  ^“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”  Galatians 5:16.  “so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  Romans 8:4.   

 

1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 

2 Timothy 4:18
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom;  to Him be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.”