Mark 14:37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour?    

    With beginner band kids, I always required them to keep a practice log and turn in their time. I wanted them to practice 60 minutes over the weekend. I had one kid who never turned any in. But who would tell me each week, “I’m going to get it all caught up this week!” I think at the moment he said it, he believed it himself. 

    Jesus, Peter, James, and John, had just come from the upper room where they and the other disciples had shared the last supper. While there, Jesus had said some disturbing things. He told them that one of them, one of the twelve, would betray Him! They all began to ask Him, “Is it I?” Except Peter. He wouldn’t accept the possibility that He might betray Jesus. He declared as much. “Even if the rest of these betray You, I won’t!”

    Now, Jesus has taken them to the garden to pray. But Jesus finds them asleep. You would think Peter at least, would be awake and praying. But Peter was sure. He was confid-ent. He wasn’t going to betray Jesus. He was resting on his own level of commitment. 

    He’s easy to criticize at this moment. We know he’s going to have his moment just ahead where he does deny Jesus three times. But are we ever like that? Not the betrayal part. (We should definitely ask that question, too.) But do we ever just rest in our own level of commitment, confident that we are alright when it comes to God? “Those other guys might need to watch and pray, but I know I won’t betray Jesus, so I’m good!” Do I ever say that?

    “Other people might need to ________, but I’m confident in my walk with God.”

    You get the idea. I could probably come up with a long list of things like that. But my list would likely only contain things that I kind of have a handle on. Things that ‘other people might let slide, but not me!’ I certainly have a great deal of control of many aspects of my Christian life and responsibility too. But I also must acknowledge a need, a full reliance, in fact, on Jesus. Only as I follow Him completely will I be what He desires. 

 My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.                                                                                                                                                                              I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.                                                                                                              On Christ the Solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.                                                                                                 All other ground is sinking sand. 

Blessings,

 

Pastor Russ