The Carnal versus the Spiritual: Devotional Thoughts from Matthew 26:36-56

• ·         We are all facing the challenge to do our will over God’s
• ·         There’s always temptation to fulfill the carnal instead of the spiritual and we are to always guard against this
• ·         Constantly ,there’s a battle to live for temporal pleasure over a purpose-filled life

Vs 26-31: We see the importance of persisting in prayer. Initially, when Christ started praying,he was weak and discouraged.Yet,amid that,he kept praying for God’s will.Do we,when we cannot bear no longer,even consider God’s will?The third time he prayed and came forth ready to meet the betrayer (vs 46). It is only in communing with  God that the soul is strengthened. Sometimes, we need not speak much.  Jesus used to wrestle with God for hours;having all-night prayers.But this time around He was so weak yet He continued to pray. Here we learn that,regardless of how many words we can utter,prayer is important.

vs 38: Jesus faced sorrow while on earth;so He is acquainted with our sorrows.Sorrows do not mean destitute of God's Spirit.

Vs 50 : Here we see the importance of yielding to God’s will. If Jesus was not open to  God’s will,He would have resisted or called Judas a traitor. So, being open to God’s will keeps us focused and makes us realize the battle is not ours nor vengeance ours.Hence the calm reaction.In fact, we see this in all the martyrs of the gospel.

Vs 52-54:We still see the importance of understanding God’s will for our lives. Had Jesus not been prepared for what was about to befall Him,He would have been resistant or even encouraged His companion to fight;yet we see Him letting God’s will be done in His life- yielding His will to God’s,letting God direct His path.

Question is: Am I willing to be led by God? Am I willing to let Him direct my paths,even if it means I’m uncomfortable? Can I point out areas in my life where I can clearly say I’m doing this because God’s word says so or “it is written”?

We also learn that being in line with God’s will does not necessarily mean comfort—often, it calls for persecution.

Vs 56:Jesus was deserted for doing His Father’s will or fulfilling His mission.Here we learn that,even those closer to us and who may be walking in the narrow with us may not understand God’s will for our lives,such that we may find ourselves alone. Even so, God is with us. 

Question to consider:

What made Jesus sorrowful? 

"Feeling how terrible is the wrath of God against transgression,He exclaims,”My soul is exceeding sorrowful,even unto death.”-DA,p685

Consider the following statements:

"The human heart longs for sympathy in suffering. This longing Christ felt to the very depths of His being. In the supreme agony of His soul He came to His disciples with a yearning desire to hear some words of comfort from those whom He had so often blessed and comforted, and shielded in sorrow and distress. The One who had always had words of sympathy for them was now suffering superhuman agony, and He longed to know that they were praying for Him and for themselves."-DA,p687

The Spirit is willing but the flesh weak:

“Rising with painful effort, He staggered to the place where He had left His companions. But He "findeth them asleep." Had He found them praying, He would have been relieved. Had they been seeking refuge in God, that satanic agencies might not prevail over them, He would have been comforted by their steadfast faith. But they had not heeded the repeated warning, "Watch and pray." At first they had been much troubled to see their Master, usually so calm and dignified, wrestling with a sorrow that was beyond comprehension. They had prayed as they heard the strong cries of the sufferer. They did not intend to forsake their Lord, but they seemed paralyzed by a stupor which they might have shaken off if they had continued pleading with God. They did not realize the necessity of watchfulness and earnest prayer in order to withstand temptation."-DA,p688

Thankful for the final decision Christ made!!! 

“Three times has He uttered that prayer. Three times has humanity shrunk from the last, crowning sacrifice. But now the history of the human race comes up before the world's Redeemer. He sees that the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must perish. He sees the helplessness of man. He sees the power of sin. The woes and lamentations of a doomed world rise before Him. He beholds its impending fate, and His decision is made. He will save man at any cost to Himself. He accepts His baptism of

blood, that through Him perishing millions may gain everlasting life. He has left the courts of heaven, where all is purity, happiness, and glory, to save the one lost sheep, the one world that has fallen by transgression. And He will not turn from His mission. He will become the propitiation of a race that has willed to sin. His prayer now breathes only submission: "If this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done." –DA,p692,693

Never alone;always with the Father:

The disciples were terrified as they saw Jesus permit Himself to be taken and bound. They were offended that He should suffer this humiliation to Himself and them. They could not understand His conduct, and they blamed Him for submitting to the mob. In their indignation and fear, Peter proposed that they save themselves. Following this suggestion, "they all forsook Him, and fled." But Christ had foretold this desertion, "Behold," He had said, "the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." John 16:32. –DA,p697