Today's devotional was written by.Paul Rummage
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While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had
given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat;
this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it
to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:26-28
Can you imagine eating a meal with your friends, knowing that just a few hours
later you would face incredibly gruesome pain? That’s what Jesus did in today’s focus verses.
We’re talking about indescribable emotional, spiritual, and physical pain. Yet
Jesus expressed thanks to the Father for the bread and cup which symbolize His
sacrificial death. The bread symbolizes His body, sacrificed for you and me.
The cup symbolizes His blood, shed for the forgiveness of our sin.
Surely Jesus’ thanksgiving was not just for the food but for what would be
accomplished through the cross. He knew the impending cruelty of crucifixion,
yet He also knew that our salvation would be achieved by His undeserved death
and victorious resurrection.
When I’m facing a difficult project, I try not to focus on the difficulty but
rather the end goal. In other words, if I focus on the joy and satisfaction of
completion, I can better tackle the task. We find this kind of perspective
modeled by Jesus, as described in Hebrews 12:2… “For the joy set before him he
endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne
of God.” He was able to endure the horrific cross because He knew the end
result would bring great joy!
In the face of challenges and difficulties, believers have a great advantage.
Our perspective is beyond the temporal pain and trial. Instead, we endure with
the assurance of eternal victory and joy as promised by our Heavenly Father
through the Son, Jesus Christ. We are more than conquerors through Him!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I can’t fathom the pain of Christ’s sacrifice, but I am so deeply
thankful. Help me to thankfully endure the storms and challenges of my life
with abiding assurance of joy and victory because of what Jesus accomplished by
His death and resurrection. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
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