"Acquainted With Both"

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not".  Isaiah 53:3

While the cross was the place where the payment for our sins was made, there was much more happening at the crucifixion.  It was there where we see how acquainted with what we face that Jesus was.

He knows exactly where you are, how you feel and what you are going through. He knows what it is like to agonize over the will of God-- if it be possible let this cup pass from me.  He knows what it is like to be falsely accused.  He knows what it is like to be betrayed by someone you are close to-- betrayed with a kiss.  He knows what it is like to walk the long rode of suffering.  He knows what it is like to be abandoned by those whom you love.  He knows what it is like to be mocked, ridiculed, beaten, cursed, made fun of, bullied and blasphemed.  He faced it all.  No one else may know what you are going through, but He does-- He's been there and done that.

But He also knows what it is like to be victorious.  The empty tomb showed us that.  He was victorious over all the things we have named.  Yes, He went through them, but He came out on the other side victorious.  Yes, He suffered, but He was still victorious.  Through the crucifixion and the resurrection we see suffering and victory. 

When we look at our lives, sometimes we only see the suffering-- the cross we are bearing.  But keep in mind, through the suffering, that there is also victory-- an empty tomb.  Jesus suffered for us.  He took our sins, bore our shame and guilt, suffered and bleed for us on the cross.  But He also rose from the dead victoriously for us.  So that sin could not destroy us, condemnation could not defeat us and death could not overcome us.  He turned His victory over to us so now, though these things "touch" us, we can still walk through them victoriously.   

Have a great day.  There may be a cross in your life but there is also an empty tomb.  
 

"My Gethsemane"

"And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt".  Matthew 26:39

We all come to a place in our lives where some things have to be settled.  I am primarily referring to the fact that we have to settle in our hearts that we are going to follow the Lord and surrender to do His will no matter what or what it may cost us.

For Moses this place of "settling" was on the back side of a desert at a burning bush.  For Joseph it was in Potiphar's house.  For Daniel it was "settled" in Babylonian captivity.  For the three Hebrews it was while standing before the threat of a fiery furnace.  For Jesus it was in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Sometimes we wonder why we are going through certain trials or are in a hard place.  It is in that place that the decision to surrender to the Lord is settled.  It doesn't, and didn't for the ones we named above, happen on a bed of ease and comfort.  It happened in the wilderness, in the dry places, in the threat of destruction, in a captive place, etc.-- this was each ones Gethsemane.  We all have to come to our own "Gethsemane".  Our Gethsemane may be on our job when we have to chose between the will of God and our bosses demands.  It may come when the doctor tells us we only have months to live.  It may come when a spouse walks out on us.  It may come when we find ourselves facing homelessness.  Regardless of how it comes, when it does, we have to make a decision.  We have to either turn away from the will of God and following Him; or we have to settle it in our own hearts and declare-- "nevertheless, not my will but Thine".

Have a great day.  We all have to come to our own Gethsemane-- the place where we settle in our own hearts that we will surrender to the Lord's will.
 

"It Shows Us God"

"Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him".  John 9:3

If there had not been a Red Sea in front of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt, they would have never seen that God is the great way maker-- making a way even where there seems to be none.

If Joshua and the Israelites had not faced the walls of Jericho, they would have never known that what looks impossible for men is possible for God. 

If Daniel had not been thrown into the lion's den, he would not have known that God is the great protector-- able to shut the mouths of lions. 

If the three Hebrews had not been thrown into the fiery furnace, they would never have known the great delivering power of the Lord.

If the disciples had not faced the storm, they would not have seen the mighty power that the Lord has even over nature.

If Lazarus had not died, Mary and Martha would not have seen the power that the Lord has even over death.

The point I am trying to make is this:  without facing some problem, some obstacle, some trial, some difficulty, something that looks like it will destroy you, you will never see the power and glory of God. 

The blind man, because of his blindness, saw the healing power of Jesus.  The lame man, because he was lame, experienced the healing power of the Lord.  Mary Magdalene, because she was demon possessed, saw the delivering power of the Lord. 

It is in facing those hard times that the glory of God can be revealed.  It is like the song says, "If I never had a problem, I wouldn't know that Jesus could solve them".  This is one way all things work together for our good.  The thing that you are going through is an opportunity to see the delivering, healing, overcoming, glorious power of the Most High God.

Have a great day.  It is only when we face trying situations that we see God as we may have never been able to see Him otherwise.   

"He Leaves A Sign"

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus".  Acts 4:13

When my grandchildren were little and would come to visit, after they left it was obvious that they had been. Every time they would come and go from my house there was evidence that they leave behind. There were still signs that they had been here-- a scooter in the yard, dirty cereal bowls, toys on the floor, lip prints on the mirror, etc.  

I want to ask you a couple of questions this morning.  If you say that Jesus is in your life (you are a Christian) then that means His presence dwells within you.  Is there any evidence of that?  Is there evidence that He is "in the house"?  As a Christian we should have a daily encounter with the Lord-- it is called our prayer time.  In prayer we meet with Him in a special way.  As we do, He ministers to us, enlightens us, directs us and transforms us.  When you come out of your time of prayer (prayer closet, war room, whatever you call it), is there any evidence in your life that you have been with Jesus?  

His presence always leaves a "sign" behind.  Read the New Testament.  Everywhere Jesus went lives were changed, touched and transformed.  It was obvious that Jesus had been there.  The same should be said of us.  It should be obvious to others that Jesus is with us and has been with us.  There should be some "sign" of His presence.  That sign is a transformed life.  Therefore, there should be some change in our attitude, in our actions and reactions, in our conduct, in our treatment of others, in our love level, and so on.  My grandchildren left signs of their presence.  Why wouldn't Jesus leave signs that He has been with us?   

Have a great day.  Is there any sign in your life that you have been with Jesus?   
 

"Late's Not Always Better"

"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)"  2 Corinthians 6:2

I am a little late this morning in getting the devotional out, but "better late than never".  We have all heard that said.  With some things that is true.  It is better to be a little late in sending out the devotional than to not send it out at all.  It is better to show up late to an event than not to show up at all.

But that philosophy isn't accurate all the time.  It doesn't apply to everything.  Your salvation is one of those things that you cannot apply this way of thinking to.  If you wait too late, you will not have salvation.  You will never receive it. 

Some think they can wait until they are at the end of their lives-- after they have done all that they wanted to do and accomplish.  Some think that they can wait until their "death bed"-- many people don't have that opportunity.  Some think that after they leave this life they will get a second chance-- that is false. 

If you don't receive Jesus as your Savior while there is still time.  If you are thinking about waiting.  If you are putting it off.  One day it will be too late.  You will never have it.  Don't be late.  Don't let the end of your life come without having received eternal life.  There is no "better being late" when it comes to your soul.

Have a great day.  Better late than never does not apply to your salvation.  If you wait too late to receive salvation it will be too late and you will never receive it.