Rise

2/18/2020

Matthew 26:46

Lost opportunity…boy, did this one hit home for me. Living with an anxiety disorder often times stops you cold from the doing of life. I had avoided things for years, and frequently made myself sick over an impending event or obligation. In my youth, it was easier for me to cope. Although every event would drain me terribly, I could still travel and experience wonderful things with those I loved.  Almost ten years ago, my coping abilities stopped cold, and my world became microscopically small. I left my job, my ministries, and my relationships. Did I feel guilt and despair? Yes, more than I can ever express; it is a deep self-inflicted wound that I sometimes still feel.

In today’s My Utmost for His Highest, Chambers talks about when Jesus asked His disciples to keep watch while He prayed at Gethsemane (before he was betrayed and the Roman soldiers came), but they fell asleep instead. He came back, and asked them once more to pray and keep watch, yet they slept again. “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Jesus came back a third time and found them asleep, and He told them, “Look the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go, here comes my betrayer.” (Matthew 26: 45&46) The disciples had missed the opportunity to spend their last precious moments with Jesus before He was arrested, and worse, did not do what He asked of them. Oh, the despair as they watched their Master led away!

Chambers says, “Whenever we realize that we have not done that which we had a magnificent opportunity of doing, then we are apt to sink into despair; and Jesus Christ comes and says – ‘Sleep on now, that opportunity is lost forever, you cannot alter it, but arise and to the next thing.’ Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ, and go out into the irresistible future with Him.”

Mercy. Our Lord shows us the most magnificent mercy. Even after not listening to His direction, being willful or lazy, and not acting on what He calls me to do, My Lord is still benevolent. Amazing grace! Yet when I reach the point of despair and selfishly lock myself away in shame and guilt, He calls me to rise. He is the God of new beginnings and infinite chances; we need only to seek forgiveness, for He offers us eternal redemption. His love for us all is truly like no other, for He is the author of love. I never again want to miss an opportunity to spend time with those I love, or an opportunity to spend time with my God, doing His will. My desire is to boldly go into the irresistible future with Him.

 Rise - Danny Gokey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eUGUC4Ko30