In the beginning of His ministry Jesus taught the disciples truths on how to pray. By the end of His ministry, he tested their will to pray. In the garden of Gethsemane He knew time was critical. He invited them to pray with Him. How did they respond? How will we respond?
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
He knew the flesh resists things of the spirit. Nothing is new. Back in the garden of Eden Adam and Eve’s flesh also failed to resist temptation. Entering into, or yielding to temptation is a matter of the will. God will not violate our free will. He tests it to prove it. He encourages us to follow His lead and use wisdom.
RELEVANCE
Jesus shared a parable about four types of soils—individual heart conditions. He revealed that in times of temptation, the type on the rock—ones with hard/shallow hearts—fall away because the word of God cannot take root.
“But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away” (Luke 8:13).
He also shared about three more types. One type cannot even receive God’s word because the heart is simply turned off to it. Another is so crowded with thorns, that “when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.” Then there is the type of heart that is “good ground.” These are “those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:11-15).
REFLECT AND RELATE
Examine the soil of your heart. Ask God to provide you with grace to receive greater measures of enlightenment by the Spirit.
REFERENCES
Romans 5:1-4; Acts 7:51; Ephesians 1:15-21