Matthew 26:42-46 Sleeping Again
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: August 31, 2019 Matthew 26:42-46
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
(Understanding the Text) I have always thought that there must have been a space of time between “Sleep and take your rest” and “See, the hour is at hand.” Some translations are like this. Others translate that Jesus was saying that the disciples could rest later, but now they needed to get up and meet their destiny. “Then he came to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners'” (LEB translation). I’m not sure which is best.
(Application) My application for myself is that when I am feeling lazy and wanting to keep sleeping instead of getting up and living, I should remind myself that there will be plenty of time to sleep later, and that now, it’s important to be active in filling myself with God’s word and meditating on His works. Of course, the drowsiness is another story. I’m not sure what I can do to stop the nodding off.
(Application / Revelation of God) My other application to myself is that it is okay to tell God that I don’t want to do what He is asking as long as it is with the attitude that He knows best and that I am willing to do it. Jesus was undergoing great mental pain, and He expressed His desire to not want to be in the anguish, but at the same time He expressed His willingness to go through it if the Father thought best.
(Prayer) Sometimes, I am lazy and unmotivated. Show me the significance and importance of what You are asking me to do so that I will be motivated to do the work before me. I want to be willing to do the work You give me even when I am not enthusiastic about the situation. I want to trust You that You are looking out for me and that You are with me as I work.