Keeping Watch

Mark 14:37

"Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. 'Simon,' he said,'are you asleep? Could ypu not keep watch for one more hour?'"

Jesus narrated several parables about waiting and keeping watch. the most well-known is The Parable of the Ten Virgins".

Jesus asks us to also keep watch. It is not for a very long time, just "an hour". of course we do not know how long that "hour" really is but the point is we should stay awake, be alert, keep watch for His coming.

Just before this, Peter and his friends stoutly insisted that they would not disown Jesus when the time came. They knew of the plot of the Pharisees to have Jesus arrested. Yet when Jesus went to pray in the Garden of gethsemane, they were not able to guard Him properly. They fell asleep!

Lord, please strengthen me with Your strength so that I will be alert and keep watch for Your coming.

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Judas and God's Will

Matthew 14:21

"The Son of Man will go as it is written about Him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! it would be better for him if he had not been born."

There have been thousands of prophecies on Jesus' sacrificial death for our sake. But Judas was never in those prophecies. God's will to sacrifice Jesus would have pushed through even without Judas' help. In fact, early on, the Pharisees already were plotting to have Jesus arrested.

So why has the name of Judas been associated with betrayal and greed? It is because of SIN.

Did Jesus want him to be the fallguy? I don't believe it. Jesus loved His disciples. he handpicked them. He knew that he was going to die for their sins even before they new it. He loved Judas for sure and even tried to warn him. "Woe to that man..." but Judas hardened his heart and chose silver over the gold that Jesus offered.

Some people say -- and I was one of them -- that Judas was created to sin the sin of betrayal. They say that if Judas had not betrayed Jesus, the plan of God would not have pushed through. This is not possible because...well..God is God! Even before Judas was even born, God;s plan for salvation through Jesus was already in motion. Even without Judas' betrayal, His plan would have its fulfillment.

So why is the story of Judas so important to us? it shows us the frailty of our humanness. Even after knowing Jesus so intimately over 3 years, after being a front-row witness to Jesus' compassion and His miracles, after sitting at His feet listening to His teachings, Judas succumbed to temptation and sinned.

We must always guard our hearts and minds against the enemy who prowls like a hungry lion waiting to pounce on the weakest in the herd.

I also believe that Jesus forgave Judas -- "Father, forgive them for they know not what they're doing." In Matthew 27:3, it says "When Jesus was condemned, he (Judas) was seized with remorse (he was sorry), and returned the thirty pieces of silver (he tried to make things right, repentance".

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Victory in His Will

Matthew 6:10
"THY WILL BE DONE."

Many times we end our narration about some form of misery with "bahala na ang Diyos", "If its His will we cannot do anything". According to Chris Tiegreen in "At His Feet", however, THEY WILL BE DONE is not a feeble resignation to God's will. Rather we should pray it in boldness as an assault on the gates of hell. It is a call to arms against the will of the enemy. A battle royale between the evil will of the devil versus the Holy Will of God. We know already who is the victor.

I never saw this verse in this light@ From a weary end to a prayer, it is in essence a declaration of victory!

Jesus prayed this when He taught the disciples to pray. It is at the beginning of the "Lord's Prayer" --

"Our Father, who art in Heaven Hallowed be Thy Name Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done..."

And again He prayed in Gethsemane, knowing the horrors that He was going to go through. He said --

"But not my will, but Yours."

It is a recognition of God's supremacy, His sovereign will that is perfect and holy, and powerful. By praying "Thy will be done", I am submit to His plans, foresee only His goodness in the outcome, and proclaim the victory that is solely His.

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Seeing through Blind Bartimaeus

Mark 10:46-52

There are so many insights from the story of the Blind Bartimaeus which we can learn from.

1. We must be bold in calling out to Jesus.
He was beggar and he was blind. He was used to being ignored or even stepped on. But when he learned that Jesus was passing his way, he began to shout.

2. We must persist even when others tell us otherwise.
People around him told him to shut up, but he refused. He knew that this was his one golden chance to ask Jesus to heal him.

3. We must be eager/willing to take that leap to go near to Jesus.
Jesus heard his persistent calling and stopped, and called for him. Bartimaeus immediately did these --

a. threw his cloak aside
b. jumped to his feet
c. came to Jesus
d. followed Jesus

The cloak during these times was a valuable piece of clothing, especially for a beggar who has to stay outside. It protected him from the hot sun during the day and kept him warm at night. In his happiness to be called by Jesus, he threw aside his cloak. When Jesus calls us, do we throw aside the things that we hold dear?

In his excitement, Bartimaeus jumped to his feet. After being seated on his spot on the road for so long, his joints must have been stiff already, yet, in his eagerness and happiness in being called by Jesus, he immediately jumped up and ran. Are we just as excited when Jesus calls us to do something for Him or do we drag our feet, moving at our normal pace?

When he finally came to Jesus, Jesus asked him, "What do you ant me to do for you?" It is only when we draw near to Jesus and stand before him in prayer that we can pour out our heart's desires.

Then Bartimaeus, having been healed, followed Jesus. he didn't go back to his old spot to beg, to his old way of life. He had a new purpose in his life and that he was to follow the One who had healed him and had given him a new life.

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Being Timid in Our Faith

Matthew 26:58 "But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome."

Peter was afraid and confused. Jesus was just arrested and the disciples have scattered, afraid thay they too will be arrested. Despite him staunchly pronouncing that Jesus was the Messiah, Son of God, Peter was suddenly timid in his faith. He followed Jesus at a distance.

How many times have I been like Peter? When conversations veer towards beliefs, do I stand firm and affirm that yes, I believe in Jesus as my Saviour and Lord? Or do I stand aside, and follow Jesus only at a safe distance?
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Musings

Not everything that God gives us is to be understood; it is just to believed and received.

Sparrows by His Pool

Luke 12:6-7
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed even the hairs on your head are numbered. DO NOT BE AFRAID; you are worth more than many sparrows.

In the past, my morning devotions were done inside the house at my dining table. Unfortunately, with the tv set blaring bad to worse news in the background, it was hard for me to focus on the Good News, and hear God's voice.

As I kept praying to God for more intimacy with Him, the Lord led me to the garden, BY HIS POOL. Here, by His pool I have found what I have been seeking -- solace with my Father, and His assurance in the sparrows.

In the early morning hours, birds flit about the trees in the garden, and at times even perch near me to sing a happy song. At times though a bird would screech rather than sing, and I wonder what he is upset about. Whether in their singing or screeching, I find so much comfort in hearing them as I meditate on God's word. Their chirping is a song of praise to their Creator who provides for them. And, He has promised His provision for me as well!

I am worth more than many sparrows! Even the very hairs of my head are numbered! How closely then the Lord knows me and watches over me! A truly assuring thought.

As I sigh in content in the presence of my God, He sends me a slight cool breeze as if to caress my cheek. I am not forgotten. I am loved. I will not be afraid.