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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 18 March 2024:
Luke 22:2 – And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.
During the time of the Passover, the religious leaders were seeking to murder to Son of God in order to maintain their status and security on earth. Today, many churches are willing to reject Jesus for sake of the American Dream.
Luke 22:19 — This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic reminder that Jesus died for us, and is now in us. Just as we are what we eat physically, Jesus within us is who we are spiritually – our spirit is made from the Spirit of God.
Luke 22:26 – …the leader as one who serves.
The greatest leader is the humblest and the one who serves others most. This is the exact opposite of what the world expects of leaders.
Luke 22:27 – For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
From Henry T. Blackaby — The measure of greatness in the kingdom of God differs vastly from that of the world. Our society idolizes the rich, the powerful, the beautiful, and the athletic. We even make celebrities out of those who brazenly flaunt their immorality. The world claims it is demeaning to serve others. However, God’s kingdom completely rejects the world’s measure for esteem, giving the greatest honor to the one who serves most. The person who serves selflessly, lovingly, without complaint, and without seeking recognition is highly regarded in the kingdom of God. When Jesus and His disciples entered the upper room, the disciples looked for a prominent place to sit; Jesus looked for a place to serve. As they awkwardly waited to be served, Jesus took a towel and basin and washed their feet (John 13:1-15). We Christians like to refer to ourselves as servants, but we are seldom content to be treated as servants! We are tempted to adopt the world’s evaluation of importance. But when we look to Jesus as our model, we see that it takes a far more noble character to serve than to be served. The world will estimate your importance by the number of people serving you. God is more concerned with the number of people you are serving. If you struggle to be a servant, your heart may have shifted away from the heart of God. Ask Jesus to teach you selflessness and to give you the strength to follow His example. Watch for Jesus’ invitation to join Him in serving others. It will come.
Luke 22:29 – I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom….
You, right now, are part of the Kingdom of God.
Luke 22:32, 40-42-44 – I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers…. Pray that you may not enter into temptation…. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done…. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
We can learn much in today’s readings from Jesus about prayer. Jesus’ primary focus in prayer was intercessory prayer for others, that they would not succumb to temptation, and that the Father’s will would be done on earth. See how Jesus’ example of prayer today parallels the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 (also, see John 17 for a deeper glimpse into Jesus’ prayer priorities). Throughout the remainder of the New Testament, you will see this pattern of prayer priorities revealed by the apostles – praying for others, and the fulfillment of God’s will.
The pattern for prayer in the Bible is a focus on God and others rather than on self and on temporal needs, praying for God to be glorified and that others would be strong in faith and empowered to glorify Him and to spread the Gospel – “To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power…. Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you….” (2 Thessalonians 1:11; 3:1) The Bible says we should bring our personal concerns before the Lord in prayer – “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” (James 5:13) However, even these prayers should be offered with the motive of “thy will be done,” along with thankfulness. (Philippians 4:6)
Again, our prayer exemplars weren’t focused on changed conditions but rather changed hearts. Jesus prayed, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15) Paul didn’t pray to be freed from prison but rather that God would use his chains to advance the Gospel. Consequently, Paul may have had a greater impact for the Gospel in prison than he did in his freedom. Also, when Paul prayed for other disciples, he generally didn’t pray for changed conditions for them but rather for their conformity to Chris-like character and for their continued strength and faithfulness in glorifying God through their circumstances and spreading the Gospel. What is the focus of your prayers?
– Colossians 1:9 — And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding….
– Colossians 4:3 — At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—
– 1 Thessalonians 3:10 — …as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
– 2 Thessalonians 3:1 — Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you….
– Philemon 1:6 — …and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
– Hebrews 13:18 — Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
“And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.” Prayer is a powerful thing, more powerful than we can understand. When Jesus prayed, He was strengthened by an angel. When we pray, we too are assisted in our prayers – “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26) You may not know what to pray or how to pray, but God will honor your heart of prayer and strengthen you along the way. How do babies learn to talk? They listen to their parents’ conversations and then try to talk to them. How do we learn to pray? We read and study God’s word, and then we try to pray from God’s word, growing in our communication skills over time. How excited do parents get over baby’s first words? How much does the Father love your feeble prayers? Never miss the opportunity to listen to God and talk with God.
More from Henry T. Blackaby on intercessory prayer — Prayer is not difficult to understand. It is difficult to do. When was the last time your heart so grieved for those you were interceding for that your entire body agonized along with your mind and heart? (Heb. 5:7). We are a generation that avoids pain at all costs. This is why there are so few intercessors. Most Christians operate on the shallowest levels of prayer, but God wants to take us into the deep levels of intercessory prayer that only a few ever experience. Deep, prolonged intercession is painful. It involves staying before God when everyone else has gone away or sleeps (Luke 22:45). It involves experiencing brokenness with the Father over those who continually rebel against Him. How many of us will experience this kind of fervent intercession? We long for Pentecost in our lives and in our churches, but there is no Pentecost without Gethsemane and a cross. How do we become mature in our prayer life? By praying. When we do not feel like praying is precisely the time we ought to pray. There are no shortcuts to prayer. There are no books to read, seminars to attend, or inspirational mottoes to memorize that will transform us into intercessors. This comes only by committing ourselves to pray and then doing so. Why not accept God’s invitation to become an intercessor? Don’t allow yourself to become satisfied with shallow, self-centered praying. Stay with God in prayer until He leads you to pray at the level He wants.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 18 March 2024: Prioritize prayer today, and prioritize others in your prayer, primarily for their relationship with Jesus.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 