Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
December 21, 2022
Read Mark 14:32-42
32 Jesus and his disciples came to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to them, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John along with him. He began to feel despair and was anxious. 34 He said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert.” 35 Then he went a short distance farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if possible, he might be spared the time of suffering. 36 He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible. Take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want.” 37 He came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you stay alert for one hour? 38 Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Again, he left them and prayed, repeating the same words. 40 And, again, when he came back, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open, and they didn’t know how to respond to him. 41 He came a third time and said to them, “Will you sleep and rest all night? That’s enough! The time has come for the Human One to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up! Let’s go! Look, here comes my betrayer.”
Good Morning, For unto us a child is born! Wonderful Counselor!
We live in a very interesting time. We are surrounded by great complexity and sometimes we long for a simpler time. It is hard to remember the time before cell phones and the Internet. We all lived it, but it seems like a lifetime ago. Take a minute and try to guess how many times a day you touch, use, or even glance at your phone. It’s crazy. Within the time of one conversation check the time, google something, take a picture, glance at an incoming message, hear a beep, and even occasionally receive a call.
Now I’m not saying that I want to get rid of this technological wonder. I love the conveniences our phones and devices provide. I appreciate knowing that when I’m traveling alone I have a way to reach others if I have a problem. It is great to be able to find directions or information about a place to which I am going. But . . . let’s go back to that idea in the first paragraph, in the time of one conversation. It seems that we are more attuned to our devices than we are to the people with whom we are visiting, and the younger we are the more prevalent this is.
Imagine for a moment a time with family or friends. Are we truly present in our time together? We do not know what tomorrow will bring so we must not squander even a moment of our time together.
As we read in this passage, Jesus simply asked his disciples to be with him in his time of need, to be present, but they kept falling asleep. When Jesus asks us to be with him, to spend time with him, perhaps we would be busy playing a game on our device while we wait with him.
We must make a choice to be purposefully present. There is a time for playing games, checking your phone, googling information, checking Facebook, and watching video clips.
However, when we are together with family and friends, let’s pause our personal screen time and be together fully present in the moment.
This exact moment is gone in an instant and will never return. There will be other moments, but with whom will we share our time? Sometimes to be present with someone is to sit in silence and absorb all that passes between you as you share a space. Spending time with God doesn’t require special words or places. Simply being purposeful is enough.
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. May we take time to be blessed. We forget that sometimes just being together is enough. Thank you for being ready for us to come to You! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: My presence can remind others of the presence of Christ.
How does God know you are ready to spend time together? Pastor Liz