In terms of all the sinfulness and struggles in our perverted culture – how do we deal with the surrounding pressures of this life ? In answer to this , one of my favorite quotes comes from Israel “ Ba ’ al Shem Tov ” who said , “ Just as the sweeper who cleans the courtyard gets dirtied himself , so can one who seeks to repair the world be contaminated by evil .”
When we are pressured or tempted in this life , what should we do ? For us , the answer is so clear and yet the most difficult thing to do - but we can overcome if we press into God through prayer ! There is power in prayer , but righteousness alone comes from being united with Yeshua .
In our passage ( Luke 6:12 ), after Yeshua was confronted by the pressures of the Pharisees , he went away to pray all night and the next morning , he chose His 12 apostles . How important was His prayer to the Father that night as He would choose His 12 disciples who would follow Him and bring Tikkun Olam to the world ? However , in coming back from His time of prayer to the Father , Matthew 26:40-41 explains ,
“ He returned to the talmidim and found them sleeping . He said to Kefa , ‘ Were you so weak that you couldn ’ t stay awake with me for even an hour ? Stay awake and pray that you will not be put to the test — the spirit indeed is eager , but human nature is weak ’.”
In light of our calling to prayer , why is it that we often see only minimal change in the midst of the Body of Messiah ?
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