Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. (Matthew 26:31-46)
Today's Morsel: How do you feel when people tell you they have your back and then they change their mind on you? Peter put up a pretty good brag about not denying Jesus didn't he? But he soon realized that his flesh was weak. If you will notice, each time that Jesus returned and found them asleep, He addressed Peter and not James and John. You see, Peter, the chosen to lead, had to learn how to stay alert even when he was tired. He had to learn how to endure hardness as a good soldier. Jesus wanted him to watch and pray as these things are essential to the ministry. Peter needed to learn at this very moment, that protection of the flock required him to be alert and to be strengthened through prayer. Jesus was just as tired as they were, but the thing He was now facing, was soon overcome through prayer. I often ask myself, what if Peter had not slept in that prayer meeting. Because he slept, his flesh was weak, and he denied that he even knew Christ. Someone said, "Seven days without prayer makes one weak." If you begin your day with prayer, you won't be weak and give in to the flesh before noon.
Sing: Here my cry oh God attend unto my prayer. From the ends of the earth will I cry unto Thee. And when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I, so much higher than I.
Thought for Today: If you begin your day with prayer, you won't be weak and give in to the flesh before noon.(Parker)
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