Day 23 of 40 Days of Lent: The Cost of Falling Off Our Spiritual Post

Beautiful imagery by @Koolshooters from City of Angels

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-41

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray.' He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, 'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.' Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.' Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. 'Could you men not 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.' He went away a second time and prayed, 'My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.' When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.'" – Matthew 26:36-41

Reflection: In the final hours before His crucifixion, Jesus made a profound request of His disciples: "Stay awake and keep watch with me." The disciples, however, failed to remain vigilant—falling asleep three times despite Jesus' urgent pleas for their support. This moment, where the disciples were off their spiritual post, reveals a powerful lesson about the cost of spiritual neglect.

When Jesus asked the disciples to stay awake and keep watch, He was asking them to remain spiritually alert during His darkest hour. Their failure to stay awake and watch meant more than just physical sleep—it signified a spiritual lapse. In their moment of disobedience, the disciples' inability to remain awake on their post allowed the enemy to move in. Jesus, fully aware of what was to come, needed their support, yet they were unable to fulfill the task He set before them—due to their lack of love for him, for one another and for self; this disobedience (John 15:12) resulted in distraction that led to the fulfillment of Jesus prophesied  crucifixion.

Jesus’ crucifixion was not only the result of his undying devotion to God’s will but also a direct consequence of the disciples' failure to obey the simple spiritual command to stay woke. In a way, because they could not stay awake, Jesus' body had to bear the full weight of the world’s sins. Their third failure to watch led directly to Jesus being delivered into the hands of sinners, and the unfolding of the crucifixion was now inevitable.

This serves as a sobering reminder that when we neglect our spiritual post—when we fail to remain alert in prayer, in faith, and in obedience—we can miss moments of opportunity and protection. The cost of falling off our post is not just personal failure; it can also have wider-reaching consequences, preventing us from fully stepping into the spiritual breakthroughs and assignments God has for us.

Application:

1. Stay Alert in Prayer: Just as Jesus asked His disciples to keep watch, we are called to remain vigilant in our spiritual practices. Are there areas of your life where God has called you to stay alert, but you have drifted away or become distracted?

   
   

2. Obey Spiritual Instructions: Jesus gave His disciples simple, clear instructions to stay awake. Disobedience to God’s instructions, even in small things, can prevent us from being part of His will at the critical moments.

   
   

3. Recognize the Importance of Your Post: Our spiritual “posts” are not insignificant. God places us in specific roles and responsibilities for His purpose. Failing to stay in those roles can lead to missed opportunities for spiritual growth, personal transformation, and collective victory in God’s kingdom.

   
   

4. Be Ready for the Next Level: Like the disciples, we may face moments where the enemy will try to take advantage of our weakness. But in those moments, we are called to stay spiritually awake and ready. Our faithfulness in the little moments of obedience prepares us for greater things.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, help us to stay awake in our spiritual lives. Open our eyes to see when we are straying from the post You have called us to and help us remain alert in prayer, obedience, and faith. We ask that You forgive us for the times we have fallen asleep spiritually and failed to follow Your instructions. Empower us to stay faithful to our calling and to trust that every act of obedience is part of Your greater plan. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Reflection Question: Are there areas in your life where you have fallen off your spiritual post, and how can you return to that place of alertness and obedience? What might be the spiritual consequences of neglecting your assignment?

Until Tomorrow, Stay Woke, Beloved.

xoxo,