Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church

Dear Friends in Christ Jesus,
The other day I grabbed a shopping cart in one of the stores. I had barely gotten down the first aisle and I had reached total frustration. I had gotten one of those carts that had a mind of its own. No doubt you have gotten one like that before too. You know the kind of cart I’m talking about, you want to go one way and it goes the opposite direction. You push and push just to get it to go the direction you want. You know you don’t want to go through the whole store that way, because you will be totally frustrated and exhausted by the time you get to the check out. So I turned around and grabbed a cart that did what I wanted it to do. Then I started thinking, am I like that first shopping cart. God is trying to push me through life into heaven and at every step along the way I am fighting him. He wants me to go one way and I want to go my way. Our hymn verse tells about Jesus’ life here, how he spent long years for us in weariness and woe. But then it ends, Come, spend thy years for me. The problem is that within us is a constant conflict of the Spirit working and our flesh working, for a child of God it is A Lifetime Conflict – His Will, My Will
Our text takes us into the very heart of the Lenten Story into the heart of the Garden of Gethsemane into the very heart of our Savior Jesus. For the thirty three years of life he had spent, nothing would be comparing with the intense suffering that was before him. He called it , the cup of suffering he would have to drink. I still remember a Lenten sermon I heard almost forty years ago by a pastor who described that cup of suffering like trying to drink a cup of puss. So vile and dirty, the picture was imprinted on my mind. For how can we imagine what it would have been for Jesus knowing he would be forsaken and bearing the punishment for the sins of all people of all time? There is good reason for him to pray, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." He knew why he came and he was willing to drink that cup of suffering, willing to go to the cross and even to the grave. For thirty-three years Jesus did all the Father asked. The Father then sent his angel to strength Jesus as he would walk the Via Dolorosa, the way of sorrows.
Jesus could pray, “Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to thee, take my moments and my days…” But when we turn to Peter, James and John they would have trouble praying take one hour and let it be consecrated Lord to thee. What a contrast exists in our text today. Jesus was willing to give up his life while the three disciples struggle to give up one hour for the Lord. When Jesus turned to his disciples he described the very trouble that exists in each of our hearts. “The Spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” This conflict within affects how we use each minute, each our the Lord gives us.
We sang, “Living for Jesus A life that is true.” I would like to think that as God’s people knowing the sacrifice of Christ that those words are really meant by us. I wonder how many would confess, Pastor, Do you know how often I wish my life would have been lived for the Lord? Do you know how many times I prayed for a greater faith and a life that would give Jesus the glory? Do you know the times I was on my knees at the Lord’s Table saying, Lord, now help me dedicate the rest of my life to you. Do you know how long it lasted? I hadn’t even gotten home and I was already disappointed in my thoughts and plans plus some of my words and actions. How can I sing, “Take my life, when I have trouble giving him 10 minutes?” Do you realize how long a lifetime really is?
Jesus knows what is going on in our hearts and lives. He also knows the struggle of the devil, the world and our flesh. You know all three were at work that Holy Week. For Peter remember Jesus’ words, (Mark 8:33 NIV) But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Our enemy Satan is trying his worst to do his work in our hearts and lives. If he can mix up our thoughts so that we do not think the things of God, he will do it. Added to that we have Judas who was deceived by the world and all its glitter and for thirty pieces of silver would betray his Savior. Now we have Peter, James and John sleeping when they should have been praying. Why would Satan trying to keep us from praying, because it is what the Lord has given to ask for help for ourselves and for his own work also.
In my first congregation I had a farmer reflect about taking time for church and worship. He summed it up this way. “Pastor if I would go broke and lose the farm because I took one hour off out of the week to go to church, I would be a pretty poor farmer. If that one hour is what would make or break me, I had better find a different job.” We are given 168 hours a week. Who or what would want to keep us from spending just one of those hours with Jesus? Who or what would want to keep us from watching and praying? Who or what would want us to think that we could use that hour for something more important than to be with Jesus, to pray to him, to worship him and sing his praises? Jesus knows, it is the devil, the world and our flesh. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
Of those 168 hours the Lord also knows what he wants us to be doing with the time he gives us here on earth. We all have roles in our homes, family and work. All these areas consume much of our time, energy and thoughts. Jesus would guide us in these areas of life also. Yet like that grocery cart with the wheels that would go another direction, Jesus knows that here too his word would guide us. He also knows that the devil, the world and our flesh would be tempted in these areas not to go according to his will, but our own sinful will. When we live only for ourselves and leave the Lord out of the picture we will reach the conclusion that it is all useless and futile. But when we stop fighting the Lord and his will in our lives and let his Holy Spirit take over and guide us in this life we will have a total different outlook. Listen to the writer of Ecclesiastes 5:18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God.
Peter, James and John would have their whole lives changed by the events of Holy Week and Easter. In one week of time they would grasp the love of Jesus like they had never experienced before. All this would then cause them to reflect on how they would live the rest of their lives for Jesus. They would learn the truth of Jesus’ words that for the rest of their lives they would have to watch and pray. Watch and pray for themselves, for the ministry, for all those God brought into their lives. So I ask you today to hear your Savior speak to your heart as it struggles with the flesh inside, to keep on watching and praying. Watch and pray for your own spiritual life, for our ministry here at Salem and for your family and all those God has brought into your life. Watch and pray. Amen.
I spent long years for thee
In weariness and woe
That an eternity
Of joy thou mightest know.
I spent long years for thee; Come, spend thy years for me.