Judica Monday, 2020 - Devotion from Exile


I had stated that I was going to try and do a daily devotion during this time of trial. I failed till this point. Forgive me! This is the first of what I will be entitling a "Devotion from Exile." Yes, we are all exiled so to speak abiding by "safer-at-home" and need to "devote" ourselves to the Scripture and prayer. With that in mind, I will be writing and passing on these devotions as regularly as possible.

 Judica Monday, 2020 - Devotion from Exile

Our text from the lectionary for this Monday of the week of Judica, the 5th week of Lent is from Mark’s Gospel. (Mark 14:32-52)

 Mark 14:32-52

     After washing the disciples’ feet and instituting the Lord’s Supper, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to Gethsemane. He explains that his soul is “sorrowful even to death,” and tells them to remain and watch while He goes further to pray. We know this account. We know the anguish He endures in His time of prayer, falling on the ground praying that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
     How often do our prayers reflect such faith in God, that God will do what is best – and that we DESIRE what He will grant to us as that which is truly best for us? Or instead, do we rather complain when we do not immediately get from God? How often has the thought passed through our minds, if it has not escaped our lips, “God did not answer my prayer,” or “God is not listening.” We want God to do things on our terms, according to our timetable, and in the manner that we desire. Stated honestly, we do not fear, love, and trust in God above all things. Our sinfulness is manifested in our self-centered prayer desires.
     If what we request is not granted in a way that is manifestly visible to us, it may be that we simply cannot see it. Of course, it may be that God is answering our prayers in the negative, or He may be wanting us to wait. God always hears our prayers, and always answers them in the manner that is best for us – and in keeping with His will for us. There are simply times that we do not like what we seem to believe is His answer – because it appears that we did not get our way.
     In these days of COVID-19, appearances can easily bring us to despair. It is not happening in the manner we would desire. Social distancing, essential businesses only, and other things seem to drive us away from one another and can be a bit disconcerting (to say the least).
     Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane was answered by the Father, and His will was done. His will was that His beloved Son give His perfect life unto death for us, His unthankful children. Forgiveness was purchased for us by the blood of the Lamb shed for us. And in the Son’s prayer, we are taught how to pray in faith, “not what I will, but what you will.”
     We are told by God through Paul’s pen to: “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess.5: 16-18) It does not seem like there is much to rejoice or give thanks for, yet we are supposed to do so. It is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. But what an opportunity to be obedient – we each have plenty of time now to pray (and I’d suggest spending some time in Scripture before the prayer ascends). Let us thank God and rejoice that He has granted us the time to do so. Let us thank God and rejoice that we can pray for others, and that He has provided for us as those who can lift others up in prayer.
     Yes, let us thank God and rejoice that even in the midst of this time which has caused the world to be in such an uproar, that He is still God over all creation, that He has called us to be His children through the waters of baptism, and that He has granted us His love in Christ Jesus, that in this time we might love one another.
  Prayer of the Day from the Treasury of Daily Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, in the Garden of Gethsemane, You suffered the agony of drinking from the cup of Your Father’s wrath against our sin, being betrayed by a kiss from one of your own. Give us strength to remain awake as we now wait and watch for Your coming again, knowing that the Father’s wrath against us has been satisfied by Your bloody death and vindicating resurrection: for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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