February 17th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

WATCH AND PRAY 

Matthew 26:40-41 “Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 

At the request of His disciples, Jesus had taught them to pray. He taught them what today we know as “The Lord’s Prayer.” In the sixth petition of this prayer, Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “And lead us not into temptation.”   

In today’s devotional verse, after Jesus had told His disciples to “watch” with Him, they had instead fallen asleep. Finding them to have ignored His request, Jesus now adds to His request that they not only “watch” but also “pray.” And, He urged them to “watch and pray” so they would “not fall into temptation.” 

Martin Luther answered what these words of Jesus meant. Luther wrote, “We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attached by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.” (Small Catechism, page 196)   

There are two meanings for temptation. Question 228 in the Catechism explains: 1) Temptation includes the “testing of our faith, which God uses to bring us closer to Himself.” 2) Temptation, also is when “our spiritual enemies lure us away from God and His ways.”    Looking more closely at Jesus’ words to His disciples in the garden, “so you do not fall into temptation” uses the word in the second way, doesn’t it.      Jesus has taught you to pray as He did the twelve. You come under temptation in both senses found in question 228. There are times when God permits temptations to come into your life to draw you closer to Him. With the temptation the Holy Scriptures give you a promise, “God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) 

This is why Jesus told His disciples to “watch and pray.” Praying enlisted the mighty power of God to protect them from those occasions when their spiritual enemies would try to lure them away from following Jesus. Further, when their faith was being tested, their prayer to mighty God would enlist Him and His presence to give them the strength they needed for their faith to endure.   

Likewise, Jesus has equipped you with the gift of prayer to strengthen you for the times in your life when your faith is being tested OR your evil enemies are trying to lure you away from your faith in the Triune God. So, “watch and pray so you will not fall into temptation.” 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have taught me to pray. In times of temptation be present to guide my heart to pray trusting You to answer for my good and to Your glory. In Your holy name. Amen. 

Be still my soul, before the Lord,  
For God is always near.  
Before your mind is moved to pray,   
God listens and will hear. 

You need not multiply your words  
Nor pray with practiced art.  
Beyond all speech, God understands  
The hunger of your heart. 

Wait, then, in quiet confidence,  
Your anxious thoughts at rest.  
Bod knows your needs before you ask  
And works for what is best. 

Be still, my soul, before the Lord;  
On God in patience wait.  
God’s love, unseen, surrounds your life; 
God’s help will not be late.  

Be Still, My Soul, before the Lord // LSB 771
Text: © 2000 GIA publications, Inc. Used by Permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110000198