He Prayed

Matthew 26:36-46

In 1896, the Kansas Congregational Minister Charles Sheldon published a novel called In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do? in which a town is revolutionized when Christians “pledge themselves, earnestly and honestly for an entire year, not to do anything without first asking the question, ‘What Would Jesus Do?’” But the commitment should be to do what Jesus did!

A Pledge That Becomes a Contradiction!

The slogan became a cliché in the 1990s. What Would Jesus Do? was repeated without meaning, as if it had some supernatural power by its saying! God’s grace isn’t in a phrase but in looking at Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Then the question is, what did Jesus do? See Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John when He walked the earth. His position was to pray. Jesus, distressed, prayed in the place called Gethsemane; He said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there (Mark 14:32).”

Jesus Prayed!

In John 17, Jesus prayed for Himself and believers. He asked the heavenly Father to glorify Him and His Son that He may glorify Him His Father. Jesus lived to glorify God. There was no question what His mission was, and once it began. He came to take away the world’s sins, John 1:17. The grace that Father God provided us prayed, which means! We need to pray even more about everything!

Guard Your Peace, Pray About Everything! 

One of my siblings called me, asking about another one of our siblings. From the onset, I thought, why are you calling me? Because I don’t recall the basis of the fall-out with them in the first place, and secondly, it’s been a long time ago! It’s hard work holding on to a grudge, and the most unfortunate part about the situation is that both see themselves as being correct! So, neither repents! 

Unforgiveness will imprison you in your past.

Before I knew it, I was in the past conversing about an incident I’d instead not think about! The sibling I spoke with couldn’t or didn’t recall some pertinent information regarding the quarrel. It wasn’t soon after I found myself talking to myself; I couldn’t believe it! This highly educated person hung up the phone without saying anything. I was dumbfounded, and a few seconds later, they texted me, apologizing for upsetting me and telling me calling back wasn’t necessary, but didn’t apologize for abruptly hanging up! Perplexed and hurt by what happened, I began to talk to the Lord!  

Jesus’ Position on Offenses!

 Jesus warns us that offences will come and woe to the one through whom they come to take heed to yourselves. If your brethren’s sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times and repent, “you shall forgive him,” Luke 17:1-4. Jesus is clear about what position we are to operate in regarding offences! Forgive the offender!

Pray for Them!

Pray for all men, 1 Timothy 2:1. Jesus said, “Love your enemies (I am not speaking of my sibling as an enemy, but if I am to pray for my enemies, how much more for my family?) bless those who curse you do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Jesus then tells us how and why we should pray and forgive that we may be sons of our heavenly Father who makes the sun rise, sets on the evil and good, and sends rain on the just and unjust, Matthew 5:44-45.

Beloved,

Father God wants us to love one another; it is the new commandment, John 13:34. Love works no ills and fulfils the law. Invite God’s only begotten Son into your heart, and He will bring all He is in you, making all things work for your good because you have the greater one in you, Romans 8:28 and 1 John 4:17.

🙏🏽Do what Jesus did pray🙏🏽

🙌🏽Be Blessed!🙌🏽