When Christ is waiting in the Garden of Gethsemane at night (Matthew 26:36-46), praying to the Father about the crucifixion, His disciples are sleeping. In Jesus’ presence they were relaxed. They thought that He being the Son of God would protect them. Jesus, knowing the suffering He was about to endure prayed fervently all night asking that the cup be taken from Him if it was the Father’s will. Jesus probably wanted the only friends He had on earth to pray for Him. He had warned them before about His imminent death but apparently the disciples either didn’t believe Him or weren’t worried about it. They were able to sleep during the time when He warned them to pray and keep watch for Him. A couple of days later when Christ was tried they were no where to be found. It seems that they were then realizing that they were in danger, too. If Christ wasn’t going to save Himself from death, perhaps they thought that He wasn’t going to save them either. They couldn’t understand what was about to happen. Peter denied Jesus three times and for the last time, he called a curse on himself.

What happened in the garden of Gethsemane is something that we today need to be careful of. In Christ’s presence we want to feel relaxed and at ease. Some people lull themselves into a type of sleepy complacency. They feel that as long as they are Christians — having Christ on their side, they should never have to endure suffering. When trials or persecutions come along they fall away, thinking, "Christianity isn’t supposed to be work," (Matthew 13:20-21). Christ does say that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). He did not mean, however, that Christians can sit back and let the world have its way with them. Christ predicted that if He, the Son of God, was to endure trials and suffering, surely His followers would also go through that and maybe more (John 15:20).

Christians do not have to seek out suffering but they should expect to be challenged. We should expect for people to criticize us and we should expect to have to defend the faith now and then. Christians that don’t receive criticism should take note: this is a warning sign. If you have no struggles with sin in your day to day life, if you are not being tempted and enduring temptations you may not be living in a way that challenges yourself to walk close with Christ.

When you walk closely with Christ you will notice that people around you that aren’t believers may start to tease, poke fun, or criticize you for your beliefs. This is because your walk convicts them. Christians don’t need to force other people to believe like them. All the world needs to see is the walking living testimony of a sincere Christian to believe in the power of God.

Just like in the Garden of Gethsemane when Christ asks His disciples to pray for Him and keep watch, He asks something of all believers in Matthew 28:18 (NIV):

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Like the disciples, we have a choice, we can sleep through our commission and His request, or we can keep watch with Christ. By keeping watch for complacency and sin we can testify to the whole world of God’s goodness and saving power. By keeping watch we have a better chance of surviving in our faith. By praying we have a better chance of reducing our suffering. By being complacent and sleeping we are likely to fall away when things get hard. It’s our choice.

I challenge you today to stay awake and vigilant as Christ challenged His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane so that you can be strong in your faith and walk closer with Him.