Facing Temptation
"Pray that you do not enter into temptation." Luke 22:40
Jesus had just gone to the Mount of Olives to pray as He knew His time was near to be taken to the cross. He needed to pray because his flesh knew what was coming and did not want to go there.
The disciples were about to face their own challenge, Peter more so. However scripture tells us that their grief had exhausted them.
Other emotions also exhaust us: fear; anxiety; betrayal; loneliness. Jesus knew what they were going through but nonetheless told them to pray.
All but Peter and John ran away and Peter, when challenged about being a disciple of Christ denied it three times, his fear controlled him.
There are times when we will face serious consequences of our behaviour or the behaviour of those we are responsible for. Fear can cause us to lie and react in ways that are ungodly. How would Christ have us behave? His advice is pray.
If we remember The Lord's Prayer, one of the verses says: ' and lead us not into temptation'. How many of us think to pray about not facing temptation?
Probably a good idea because each of us will face it daily. Amen!
Jesus had just gone to the Mount of Olives to pray as He knew His time was near to be taken to the cross. He needed to pray because his flesh knew what was coming and did not want to go there.
The disciples were about to face their own challenge, Peter more so. However scripture tells us that their grief had exhausted them.
Other emotions also exhaust us: fear; anxiety; betrayal; loneliness. Jesus knew what they were going through but nonetheless told them to pray.
All but Peter and John ran away and Peter, when challenged about being a disciple of Christ denied it three times, his fear controlled him.
There are times when we will face serious consequences of our behaviour or the behaviour of those we are responsible for. Fear can cause us to lie and react in ways that are ungodly. How would Christ have us behave? His advice is pray.
If we remember The Lord's Prayer, one of the verses says: ' and lead us not into temptation'. How many of us think to pray about not facing temptation?
Probably a good idea because each of us will face it daily. Amen!
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