Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "A Picture of Fear" – Tuesday, 11 November 2014 - Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "A Picture of Fear" – Tuesday, 11 November 2014 - Scripture: Matthew 26: 36-38 Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, “This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me.”
39 Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?”
40-41 When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”
42 He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, “My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I’m ready. Do it your way.”
43-44 When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn’t keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.
45-46 When he came back the next time, he said, “Are you going to sleep on and make a night of it? My time is up, the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the hands of sinners. Get up! Let’s get going! My betrayer is here.”
"A Picture of Fear" by David J. Felter
Years ago, artist Lawson Wood painted a watercolor of a country parson standing before an open gate to a humble English cottage. Between the parson and the door stood a growling bulldog. Fear and anxiety traced lines of concern across the parson’s face as he hesitated.
Stopping my car at the end of a country lane, I prepared myself to make a pastoral call on the family that lived there. An outbuilding stood between me and the door of the farmhouse. I stepped out of my parked car and started for the door. As I rounded the corner of the building, I froze. Standing between me and the house was a large dog of unknown ancestry.
In that moment, I knew why Wood named his painting, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
The challenge before Jesus would exact a terrible price. His sleepy-eyed disciples wanted to be with Him, but weariness overcame them. Instead of rebuking them, He reminded them that willingness will be overcome by weakness unless it is accompanied by perseverance.
I gathered my courage and made it to the door . . . but no one was home.
Hymn for Today:

"He Never Has Failed Me Yet" by W. J. Henry
1. When I travel the pathway so rugged and steep,
When I pass through the valley so dark and so deep,
And when snares for my soul by my foes have been set,
Jesus never has failed me yet.
Refrain:
He never has failed me yet.
He never has failed me yet.
I have proven Him true; What He says He will do.
He never has failed me yet.

Thought for Today:

“To Love, to Be Loved
God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love."(1 John 4:17-18).
Prayer Needs:
For the teams showing the JESUS Film in Mesoamerica.
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