Beyond the Weekend

May 18 | Outside Help

May 18, 2021

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” Luke 22:39-40

Read: Luke 22:39-46
Listen: 
Luke 22

TODAY’S MESSAGE

On the night of his arrest, Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives with his disciples. He knows this will be a difficult night for him, and his disciples will each face all kinds of confusion and the great temptation to abandon him. But he doesn’t tell them they will be tempted or give specific direction about what to do when temptation comes. Instead, he instructs them to pray they would not fall into temptation. He knows that they would need outside help and teaches them to pray for it.

Jesus’s instruction to pray about temptation is not a one-time occurrence. The same principle is at play in The Lord’s Prayer. In this prayer, he instructs his disciples to pray about their temptations beforehand. It seems Jesus recognizes his disciples cannot simply muster up enough energy to fight temptation on their own. Jesus wants them to pray for God to guide and deliver them.

We can learn a lot from these two sections of Scripture. We may not be on the verge of betraying Jesus, but we face temptations to sin regularly. We are tempted to say, do or think things contrary to God, his Word and his good plan for us. So, like the disciples, we ought to listen to the advice of Jesus and pray for guidance and deliverance—not just in the moment of temptation— but long before. A great place to start is a simple prayer asking God to guide and deliver us. We need outside help.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

After praying The Lord’s Prayer, think about what might tempt you today. Ask God to guide and deliver you today.

40 DAYS OF PRAYER

Join us for 40 DAYS OF PRAYER where all of us will find a quiet space and slowly read The Lord’s Prayer. May forty days of praying like Jesus prayed, and desiring what Jesus wanted, make a big difference in our hearts and our communities.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.


NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN

Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.

Today’s reading is Acts 8.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

 

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