Tag: pray

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Luke Devotionals

Watch and pray

During those days he went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)

In the last three chapters of Luke, three times I’ve noticed Jesus going off alone to pray (4:42; 5:16).

Chapter 5 makes clear that this was a regular practice of his.

I was thinking this morning how much I need to follow his example.

I have a Father who loves me and wants to touch those around me. How alert am I to what the Father is doing around me?

I have an Enemy who hates me and wants to destroy me and those I love. How alert am I to what Satan is scheming?

Jesus commands us to watch and pray. (Matthew 26:41)

Paul tells us to do the same (Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2) as does Peter (1 Peter 4:7).

But am I doing that?

Father, let me not be spiritually oblivious. Teach me to watch and pray as Jesus did.

Categories
Mark Devotionals

Watching and praying

Mark

Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning.

Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!” (Mark 13:35-37)

He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.”…Then he came and found them sleeping. (Mark 14:34, 37)

It’s interesting to me that in the garden of Gethsemane, the disciples lived out the parable Jesus had just told them.

In the parable and in the garden, Jesus told them, “Be alert. Stay awake.” (In the Greek, those two commands are exactly the same.)

But when their Master returned, the disciples were sleeping. Why? Luke tells us the reason: they were exhausted from grief. (Luke 22:45)

Grief from hearing Jesus was leaving them (John 16:5-6).

Grief that one of them would betray him (Mark 14:18).

Grief that all would forsake him. (Mark 14:27)

And because of their grief, they failed to watch and pray. So when the time of trial came, they fell. (50)

Sometimes, we are so burdened by our problems that we say, “I can’t pray. I’m too exhausted. I’m feeling too weak.”

But it’s precisely during those times that we need to watch and pray the most.

Jesus was exhausted. He was emotionally drained. But in the garden, he watched and he prayed. So when the time of trial came, he was able to stand.

Are you feeling exhausted? Are you feeling emotionally drained? Now especially is the time to watch and pray.

Categories
Hebrews

Following and praying for your leaders

Hebrews

I have great respect for the pastors who have been over me.

I’ve been teaching God’s word for a long time, but have never sensed the call to be a pastor.

If all being a pastor meant was teaching God’s word, I could probably do that. But a pastor is called to do much more in shepherding the flock God has given them.

We forget that sometimes. And not only do they have the responsibility of shepherding the church, they have the everyday responsibility of shepherding their families as well.

These are heavy responsibilities. And most take them seriously because they know that one day they will answer to God for what they have done.

More, they know that because of the specific responsibilities they have over God’s flock, they are held to higher account than most people.

And so the writer of Hebrews tells us,

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.

Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage of you. (Hebrews 13:17)

Like I said, being a pastor is tough as it is. It becomes even tougher when his own flock starts sniping at him. Criticizing him. Tearing him apart for every mistake that he makes. Questioning every decision he makes in leading the church.

The writer of Hebrews tells us, “Don’t do that. Follow them. Submit to their authority.”

Why? Because God is the one that gave them that authority. And ultimately, he is the one they are accountable to. He is the one who will judge them if they go off the right path, not you.

When we are constantly criticizing and tearing down our pastors, their job becomes a burden instead of the joy God intends it to be.

That’s not only bad for them. It’s also bad for us. Instead of being able to focus on all the things God has called them to do, they are forced to put out all the fires in the church.

And all the while Satan laughs.

So don’t be a part of that.

Is there no room, then, for criticism of a pastor? Certainly, there is.

If they’re getting into false teaching, they must be confronted.

If they’re neck deep in sin and immorality and will not repent, they must be confronted. And Paul deals with such situations in 1 Timothy 5.

But if you’re simply dealing with differences of opinion, in the direction of the church, in how things are run, etc., follow the leader God has given you. It’s entirely possible that they see things that you cannot.

And if your pastor does make a mistake in these things (and they inevitably will)? Don’t snipe. Don’t criticize. Build them up. Encourage them. And above all, pray.

The writer of Hebrews said,

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. (18)

Most pastors are the same. Even though they feel like they have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way, they still fall. They still make mistakes. So pray for them.

What is your attitude toward your pastor?

Categories
Luke Luke 10

Ask…then go!

Luke

In this passage, we see Jesus not only sending out the 12 disciples, but 72 others. And he gives them pretty much the same instructions that he had given the 12 when he first sent them out.

But it’s the first few verses that strike me. First he told them something he had said before. He said,

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. (Luke 10:2)

Meaning, of course, that there are many people out there that are ready to hear the gospel and would believe if only we had enough workers to go out and reach them.

So Jesus said, “Pray. Pray that God would send people out.”

But Jesus doesn’t stop by saying, “Pray.” He immediately tells them, “Go! I am sending you out…” (Luke 10:3)

And he tells us the same. Certainly, he wants us to pray for more workers. But he wants to start with you. He wants you to hear his call and go out to reach those around you.

Sometimes, as we go out, we fear rejection. But Jesus reminds us,

He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me. (Luke 10:16)

In other words, remember that if they reject your message, they are not really rejecting you, they are rejecting me. So don’t lose heart. And remember also that there will be those who will listen and be saved.

He then encourages us by saying,

Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.

For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. (Luke 10:23-24)

For so long, people like Moses, David, Daniel, and others longed to see the kingdom of God come with power. And now, with Christ’s coming, we have that opportunity to see it come into the lives of the people around us.

But we will never see it unless we go out. If we do, however, we will see his kingdom come with power in the lives of those who believe.

So don’t just pray…go!