The setting – Jesus was finalizing His earthly ministry. He and His disciples had celebrated the Passover Feast. He quelched the argument about who was superior among His disciples. Jesus predicted Peter’s denial of Him, and it was time for Jesus to get together with His Father so that He was prepared for His work on the cross.
Jesus instructed His followers to pray while He was off alone with His Father. They needed to be alert, and connected with their Heavenly Father to protect them from temptations that were coming into their lives, once Jesus was no longer with them in person.
The following is a very familiar passage, in which Jesus’ instructions were given to His disciples:
Luke 2:39-46 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
I have read that passage countless times, but this time I was struck by the statement: “An angel from heaven appeared to Him and Strengthened Him.”
As I pondered that statement, it occurred to me that the disciples’ choice to slumber, rather than pray, resulted in them missing out on an incredible experience with God. They missed the miraculous.
Jesus experienced the miraculous event because He, even in His exhaustion, stayed awake to spend time with His Father.
I had to wonder how many times have I missed the miraculous because I’ve chosen to sleep, or watch TV, or do some other non-essential activity, when God has nudged my heart to pray.
But God doesn’t give up on His people. That is evident when we read the rest of Scripture. He is so very patient and longsuffering with His people.
He waited centuries before He exiled the Jewish nation of Israel because of their rebellion against Him through the worship of idols (false gods), and alliances with other nations. They missed the miraculous – BIG TIME. They chose the things of this world instead of their Creator.
But God did, and continues to, bless Israel, while His pending promises for her are awaiting their complete fulfillment.
When Sarah laughed at God, He still kept His promise to bless her. She missed the miraculous experience at that moment because she doubted God. But God did bless her by giving her a son according to His promise and in His timing.
Paul rejected Jesus, while pursuing his fanatical religion, missing out on the miraculous experience of relationship with Him. But God eventually grabbed hold of Paul, who repented, and came to experience God in amazing ways.
But God doesn’t always give the “happy ending” for all people’s rebellion against Him. Jesus clearly tells us that in Matthew 7:13: ““Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”
Many will miss the miraculous because they choose the way of man, led by Satan.
I purchased a new lawn mower this year. It is a super easy pull start, and wow, did that make it so much more pleasurable for me to mow the lawn. But…as the season progressed, that easy start vanished. It even became difficult for my husband to start the mower for me (I like mowing!).
But God reminded me I stopped asking for His help to start the mower. That was the only way my old mower would start. I prayed, and it started. No prayer, it didn’t start. My dependence upon man’s workmanship in the mower caused me to cease my reliance upon God.
As soon as I realized this, I started praying, and that lawnmower is now starting for me! It is a small example of my missing the miraculous, because I stopped asking my Heavenly Father for help. Once I asked, I experienced the miraculous.
God wants to be involved in EVERYTHING we are involved in (as long as it is something honorable to Him).
The more dependent I am upon God, the greater my experience of His miraculous involvement in my life. I might be given stamina and physical strength, specific words of guidance and encouragement for myself or another, unexpected financial provision, or the help of a neighbor.
I know I don’t want to miss any experience with God. I know my sin will interfere with that, so I ask Him to help me to sin less, and obey more. I follow that request up with daily time in His Word, and in prayer, involvement in solid teaching of the Bible, regular church attendance, and serving Him, especially at personal cost.
God won’t be indebted to us for anything. That is the lesson in Malachi 3:10: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
In Malachi God addressed the rebellion of the Israelites with their offerings to Him, but God can apply that same principle to every area of our lives. He promises that we will reap what we sow, and if we sow according to God’s Word and His commands, we will reap abundantly, because that is what He promises. It is not a health, wealth, and prosperity promise, but one of miraculous experience with Him.
Jesus had to go to the cross. But God delivered Him through that amazing sacrifice.
If you have not yet accepted Jesus’ gift of eternal salvation, what is standing in your way? Please discuss that with someone you know (or contact me) who truly seeks and knows Him as Lord and Savior. You really don’t want to miss the most miraculous gift of all – eternal life.
Living for Jesus, Donna
P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!
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Copyright 2021 Donna Shappy
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