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Mark 14:37-38
Jesus finished His prayer in Mark 14:36 crying out to God, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” He then returned to His disciples only to find them sleeping (Mark 14:37). He questions Simon-Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:37-38, NKJV). This is the same person (Peter) who has just before coming to the garden declared to Jesus, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be” (Mark 14:29). The one who was claiming to be the closest to Jesus is the one in which the devil strikes the hardest, but Jesus was with him and gave him guidance in overcoming temptation as He instructed Peter to “Watch and pray…” (Mark 14:38).
This is an example that the devil will try harder to pull us away from Jesus as we grow stronger and stronger in our relationship with Jesus.
I once heard a pastor say that if the devil is tempting you more and more, it is because you are growing closer and closer to Jesus; the devil only tempts those who are not following as he desires. The point being that if the devil is not tempting you, then he does not need to pull you away from God because the devil already has you firmly in his grasp; it is those who are doing the will of God that the devil is most concerned about. The good part is that as we grow in our relationship with Jesus and begin to learn that we are rewarded for overcoming temptation, and begin receiving those rewards from God, we become a stronger and stronger warrior for Christ. Yes, rewards for our dedication and obedience to God through putting our faith in Christ Jesus. These rewards are not physical, but spiritual blessings that come to our heart as God’s Holy Spirit fills us with an inner blessing that can be matched by no other. Some of you know what I’m talking about, and for those of you that don’t, I urge you to put your faith in Jesus – profess Him your Savior – ask Him to forgive you for the sins you have committed – and believe in your heart that He died for your sins and paid your penalty for sin so that you may be set free from sin and live through His purity as He will give you His righteousness as the gift that keeps on giving for eternity – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
You teach us in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NKJV), “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” Thank You LORD for saving us from the wiles of the devil. In Jesus name I pray, amen.