Spending Time with the Lord - Jonny Smith

On a wet, stormy night Jonny Smith brought a message to the young people on the importance of spending time with the Lord. Reading from Mark 14, Jonny considered the disciples whom the Lord ask to 'tarry ye here' while He went up to pray, on the night on which He was betrayed.

The Lord Jesus Christ, having already indicated that one of His disciples would betray Him, in verse 27 also prophesied that all of them would be ashamed, on that night, to be associated with Him. He then took them away from the noise and bustle of the city of Jerusalem and out into the quietness of Gethsemane.

We can imagine how they must have pondered the Saviour's words in the calm of this garden. How He had told them that He was soon to be put to death. How that He would rise again, and how these men, His disciples would be ashamed of Him that very night.

Perhaps that was the reason that Christ brought them to this place. As believers, it is critical that we regularly take 'time out', that we regularly take time to close the door on the outside world and take time with the Lord. 

In the same chapter, He Himself demonstrated the importance of taking time with God. In His sorrow and agony, He separated Himself from the disciples so that He could pray to His Heavenly Father. And if the Lord Jesus had to take time, away from the distractions of the world, to pray, then how much more should we do likewise.

In stark contrast, the disciples, brought to the same location, perhaps for the same purpose, failed to use the time wisely. On Christ's return, He found them asleep. Waking them to tell them to 'watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation' (verse 38), He again went to pray. On His return they were once more asleep.

The disciples had missed the opportunity to take time in prayer. Likewise, how often do we let our own desires rob us of the chance to pray or read the Word of God. How often do we let the distractions of the world come before time with God's people. Our wayward thoughts, so many times, draw our minds away from the things of God.

As young believers, we need to spend time with God. Although the sinful flesh within us wants only to think on sinful things, we must ask God's help to overcome these natural desires and spend time with Him. Only then can we better know Him, and grow in the knowledge of His grace.