

(Jesus said) "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Mark 14:38
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.
In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Facing the horrific weight of His arrest, interrogation, and the cruel road to Golgotha, Jesus said the words above. Spoken to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane some two thousand years ago, Jesus' bold caution echoes through the ages to every believer who has faced temptation.
In deep distress and sorrow, agitated and anxious, Jesus told His disciples how to resist when one's sinful nature or circumstances entice toward wrongdoing: "Watch and pray." In other words, the only way people can resist temptation is by asking for God's help.
God's help is available because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did not give in to temptation. He lived a life of perfect obedience for us, died a death of perfect sacrifice for us, and came back to life for us -- a perfect Savior.
How can you resist temptation? The simple answer is to watch and pray in the Name of Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, in His power He helps you resist temptation, and in His love He forgives you when you fail in your resistance.
And by God's grace, when our resistance fails, His mercy remains steadfast.
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, our prayer is a simple one: help us to be alert and pray. Our spirits are indeed willing, but our flesh is weak. Thank You for the victory you have given us through the perfect sacrifice of Your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Biography of Author: This devotion is based on a text submitted from a volunteer with Lutheran Hour Ministries in Thailand. Known in that country as Journey Into Light (JIL), it operates out of Bangkok. Using community radio programs, Equipping the Saints (ETS), Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC), as well as the Internet and Gospel text messaging, this ministry shares the Good News with people throughout this primarily Buddhist country.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
Today's Bible Readings: 1 Kings 12-13 Acts 11
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