Fall Down: Get Back Up

How many of you have actually been punched and knocked down? I have. And I noticed something that is a life lesson.

Something inside of me stirred and said you can't quit, you can't let your peers see you like this, your heart won't let you give up, Get Back Up.  And when I did I saw fear in my adversary's eyes because a wounded tiger, a wounded man who has nothing to lose by fighting on is a bad man, a danger to the opponent.

Here's another question for you? When are we going to realize as Christians that the ultimate baddest man on the planet gave us a blueprint of how to get back up when we Fall Down? Check out Matthew 26:36-46 and Luke 22:43. In a summary that fits a blog, Jesus was preparing for his arrest, persecution and crucifixion by going to the Garden of Gethsemane. He became anguished and distressed, his soul was crushed even to the point of death.

He asked his apostles to be there for him, they weren't because they fell asleep. He Fell Down to the ground and prayed, "Father, if it is possible, let this cup be taken away from me. Yet I want your your will to be done, not mine." In Luke it adds "And being in anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground". He was hurting, just like we are in times of great anguish.

Lots of folks have advice for us, they say they will pray for us but never pray with us. And when we are knocked down the self help books and seven ways to get right folks are MIA. What we are left with is what Jesus faced, the weight of it all knocked him down, but his fighting spirit, knowing his purpose told him to get back up. And when he did he gave the disciples the formula to fight back and stay awake.

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Stay down or get back up? Quit or finish what you started? Three times Jesus went back and watched and prayed, each time gaining strength, then he stood face to face with his accuser and capturers and said Let's be going!

The baddest man to walk this planet (I say that with all respect), fell down and got back up. He looked his adversaries in the eye and said do what you must do. He died and got back up. And the greatest thing about it is....he did it for you.

Let's hope you don't get punched today, but if life itself knocks you down, think about how he told us to conquer the temptation to quit!