Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” —
Matthew 26:36-38
Transparency is an oft-overlooked element in our growing closer to Jesus Christ. Intimacy with the Lord requires our full, humble, and honest openness before Him.Matthew 26:36-38
Jesus Himself was a wonderful model of openness as He dealt with His disciples. For instance, we read in today’s Bible verse that, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus shared with the disciples His anguish over His upcoming crucifixion and brief separation from God the Father.
Knowing that the sins of the entire world were about to be cast upon Him, Jesus grieved, even to the point of near death. Here was God, clothed in human flesh, being completely honest, open, and forthright about His emotions. This is how Christ would have us react to Him.
A proud, arrogant, egotistical, self-sufficient Christian bristles at the thought of such transparency. “Why should I burden God with this when I can handle it myself? I’m just not going to deal with God about this.” Such thinking and behaviour goes against everything for which God created us.
However, God cherishes and honours a humble, contrite spirit from someone trying to be himself or herself before the Lord. Confess sin, worry, doubt, and fear. He already knows all, but your willingness to intimately share with Him all the details speaks volumes about the bent of your heart.
Prayer:
Lord, just as I am, I come before you. Search my heart and make me whole.Scriptural Reading:
Matthew 26:36-46
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