Nov 4 - Matthew 26:45

Are you still sleeping

and taking your rest?

See, the hour is at hand ...

Matthew 26:45

Do you know what "carpe diem" means?

"Seize the day!"

Do you know what "carpe manana" means? It's okay to laugh. "Seizing tomorrow" does make a funny bumpersticker! But it doesn't make a great life philosophy. "Why do today what you can put off til tomorrow" grinds our life to a halt. We only get to go around this world once. YOUR HOUR is at hand.

Am I interpreting this right? Jesus didn't say, "MY HOUR is at hand." He said, "THE HOUR." (And let's assume Jesus knew what he was doing with words, since in yesterday's lesson, we watched him specifically say "MY BLOOD of the covenant" rather than just generic blood.) So while yes, it was HIS hour, but it was THE decisive hour for the disciples -- and the world -- too.

You and I are also disciples. And it's worth noticing what Jesus had been doing in the hour before THE HOUR. He'd been praying. (Point one: If you want to seize your day, start by praying. If you want to make the most of your life, see where God wants you to go.)

Second, in those prayers, Jesus asked that the cup of suffering might pass away from him. (Point two: Ask for the obstacles to be removed. Sometimes they will. Sometimes they won't. Sometimes the obstacles are there to make you stronger.)

Third -- and quite importantly -- Jesus then submitted to God's will, saying, "O Lord, not my will, but thy will be done." Allow God to make the most of your life. (Point three: You plus you still equals just you. But you plus God are an overwhelming majority.)

In Christ's Love,

a guy who needs

to remember point four:

WAKE UP!

(We've done enough resting.)