Day Nineteen: Acceptance in the Midst of A Storm
I was reading my Daily Bread this morning when it struck me that this passage was very timely. Jesus knew that he was going to die a horrible death. There was no avoiding it. It was his destiny to save the world from their sins for all time. Yet when I focus on the passage in Luke 22 I realize that he really struggled with it. To me his struggle made him seem more human, and not someone who was just blindly doing this. It says that great drops of sweat fell from his face when he contemplated what was soon to take place. This was no masochist who enjoys pain or sadist who got pleasure out of causing others pain. He will willing to make that sacrifice for us.
In this current situation we're all in right now, it is understandable that we rally against the forces that are tearing us apart at the seams. Yet there also comes a time that we have to accept it. Jesus did plea with God in Luke 22:42 (KJV) "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." As I mull over this verse I realize that we can pray all we want about what we want to happen, but if it's not God's will, it won't happen. I admit this is a hard pill to swallow. I want relief now from this oppression. I want things to go back to normal. I do have to question though "Is it God's will that life return to normal?" I don't know right now.
All I do know for sure is that in Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) we read: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." More updated versions state that God knows the plans he has for us. Acceptance in the midst of a storm is very hard because your world has been turned upside down. It may be really difficult to see how this crisis could end in a good way. It is how we deal with crisis that shows our true character. We can accept that things are pretty much in an upheaval now, and find constructive ways to deal with it or not.
The media and certain democratic representatives are having a field day right now celebrating what they think is the downfall of Christianity. Some are even threatening to close churches permanently. Unfortunately for some churches this is a foregone prophecy as they will not be able to recoup their losses. They don't realize that the more pressure they put on the current administration and the Christian community, the more they shine. We definitely need to accept the Lord's cup that's been drawn to atone for our many sins. It was his blood that washed our sins away. We can shine in these dark days, showing people the way to God through his son Jesus Christ.
The door is open now for all those who willingly repent and turn to God. I have a feeling that it won't be open much longer, but that's just me. Accepting God's free gift is the next step. Jesus died that you may live eternally with him. I do thank and praise him for that gift of salvation.
In this current situation we're all in right now, it is understandable that we rally against the forces that are tearing us apart at the seams. Yet there also comes a time that we have to accept it. Jesus did plea with God in Luke 22:42 (KJV) "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." As I mull over this verse I realize that we can pray all we want about what we want to happen, but if it's not God's will, it won't happen. I admit this is a hard pill to swallow. I want relief now from this oppression. I want things to go back to normal. I do have to question though "Is it God's will that life return to normal?" I don't know right now.
All I do know for sure is that in Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) we read: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." More updated versions state that God knows the plans he has for us. Acceptance in the midst of a storm is very hard because your world has been turned upside down. It may be really difficult to see how this crisis could end in a good way. It is how we deal with crisis that shows our true character. We can accept that things are pretty much in an upheaval now, and find constructive ways to deal with it or not.
The media and certain democratic representatives are having a field day right now celebrating what they think is the downfall of Christianity. Some are even threatening to close churches permanently. Unfortunately for some churches this is a foregone prophecy as they will not be able to recoup their losses. They don't realize that the more pressure they put on the current administration and the Christian community, the more they shine. We definitely need to accept the Lord's cup that's been drawn to atone for our many sins. It was his blood that washed our sins away. We can shine in these dark days, showing people the way to God through his son Jesus Christ.
The door is open now for all those who willingly repent and turn to God. I have a feeling that it won't be open much longer, but that's just me. Accepting God's free gift is the next step. Jesus died that you may live eternally with him. I do thank and praise him for that gift of salvation.
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