Message from Scripture: 5/26/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Mark 1:35. “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.”

 

In our text for today, the phrase “early morning” usually had reference to the 3^rd watch of the night, from 3 am to 6 am. Jesus knew the value of prayer, and spent much time in it during His earthly ministry. Luke tells us, before He chose His apostles, “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). Of course, we remember the intensity of His prayer before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, where drops of sweat like blood poured from His brow as He prayed to fulfill the will of God (Luke 22:44).

 

People can pray for all kinds of reasons. Some only think of praying when a crisis is upon them. One survey shows even nonbelievers take time to pray when they are in desperate straits. One person candidly admitted he didn’t pray until a crisis because he wanted ownership of his life and didn’t want to surrender that to anyone else, including God. Others pray for selfish reasons, to have their desires fulfilled (Jas. 4:2-3). Still others do so because it is an integral part of their daily lives, essential to their relationship with God (1 Thess. 5:17).  

 

Like Jesus, we should be constant in prayer (Rom. 12:12), to make God’s will our will. By humbling ourselves, and emptying ourselves of ourselves, one will find what a strength and blessing prayer really is. A genuine relationship with God is one where prayer is integral, along with the study of Scripture, worship of Him, and serving Him. What a difference it makes when God truly is the focus of every aspect of our lives. Today, lets be constant in genuine prayer. Let’s go out and serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from a pure and devoted heart and life. What a difference it makes. God bless.

 

Robert