The Dark Valley

Here’s Today’s Devotional from The Vine…

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. - Luke 23:44

 

It was a mysterious and supernatural darkness. We may say, and we can say no more, that it was nature sympathizing with the crucifixion of its Lord. How dense it was we cannot tell; but it must have filled the hearts of the multitude about the cross with awe.

There was also a still deeper darkness around the soul of Him who hung on that central cross. It was so dark that He even seemed forsaken of God. We can never understand it, although we know that it was the sin of the world that made the darkness. Jesus wrapped the glooms of death about Himself that we might be clothed in garments of light. He died thus in darkness that we might walk into the valley amid the splendours of heavenly light. He had agony in His last hour that we might have joy. His head wore the crown of thorns, and had no place to rest in dying, that under our heads might be the pillow of peace.

It is profitable for us to contrast the death of Christ with that of His disciples in all ages since. He shrank from the “cup;” they are eager to drink it. He seemed forsaken of God; they look with ecstasy and unclouded vision into the Father’s face. Why did death mean so much to Him, and why is it such a peaceful experience to them? It is easy to answer this question. Death has no bitterness for the Christian, because it was so bitter to the Redeemer. He drew the cruse from it, and now it has in it only the sweetness of blessing. Indeed, there is no death any more for the Christian. Jesus abolished death. What we now call death is death no longer, since He passed through it. It is now only the shadow of death, and even the shadow is lighted up with the beams of Divine glory bursting from heaven. Let us never forget that we have light in our dying because Jesus had darkness.

Christ’s Cry on The Cross

Here’s Today’s Devotional from The Vine…

About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” -Matthew 27:46

 

This was the fourth word on the cross. It is too mysterious for explanation, and we may only ponder it with hushed hearts for a little. Why hast thou forsaken me?” It was not the nails in His flesh, nor the insults of scoffing enemies, nor the ignominy of the cross, but the fact that Jesus for the time had lost the sense of the Father’s presence, that made the grief of the hour.

“Why hast thou forsaken me?” What had He, the beloved son, done that the Father should forsake Him? It would not have seemed so strange if He had forsaken the angels or the saints living in glory; but why should He forsake His own Son?

“My God!” Why does He not say “My Father” ? He said “Father” in the first word on the cross, and in the very last; why is it “My God” here? Has He in the darkness lost the consciousness of sonship? Does He seem pushed far away from home, from the Father’s heart, from the bosom where from all eternity He had reposed? So it seems. Yet mark how His faith clings in the darkness: it is still “My God!” He has not lost faith even in the darkness. His faith holds, though He cannot see God’s face. No matter how dark the night about us, how heavy the cross that weighs us down, how lonely and deserted we may feel, we should never lose faith in God. Behind the blackest clouds His face ever beams with love. He is still our God, though for the time He may have left us alone.

“Why hast thou forsaken me?” Can we answer this “why” ? We know only that Jesus was bearing our sins, and that it was for our sake He had to endure this hiding. He was forsaken then for a small moment that for all eternity we might enjoy the favour of God and dwell in communion with Him.

Bible Verse for the Day

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:14-15

Yesterday we began to look at this passage and the difficult role of Shepherd.  Toda y we will delve into the meaning of a couple of words in verse 15.

 

The Greek word used here for know is ghinosko which means:

To learn to know, to understand, to perceive, have knowledge of, to be deeply intimate with

 

The Greek word used here for is Psuche which means:

The breath of life, living soul, the seat of feelings, desires , affections, etc..

 

As I reread this passage with a clearer knowledge of these words I discover (or remember) that Jesus knew (knows) His Father to the deepest level possible, they are indeed One in unity with one another.  Jesus knowsd Gods true self and good heart and knows that it is good to follow Him and to do His will.

 

It is because of this relationship and Jesus’ love for us that He gave His all (the very fiber of His life) that we may have, salvation, , restoration with the Father, life and freedom. He held nothing back and walked willingly to where God called Him.

 

The thoughts that come to my head is that I want this type of relationship with the Father for myself. I know I am a work in process, but I feel so far from this most days due to my actions, reactions, and listening to the lies of the enemy. If I am honest I try to walk deeper with God and as the enemy whispers attacks about God’s nature to me, I hesitate.  I also tend to be selfish in the fact that I hold things back from God and don’t give Him my all, maybe it’s control, uncertainty, or being conservative, but it limits my journey with the One who loves me without any agenda other than my healing and restoration.

 

My prayer today is that God will continue to disrupt the areas of my life that I try to control and make “comfortable”  (without relying on God), that He will dismantle the strongholds that keep me from the freedom and life He is offering and that He heals and restores that which is broken and wounded within me.

 

I know that as He does this things in life become more uncertain and that there will be challenges to get through, but it is worth what awaits on the other side.

 

This is my prayer for you as well.

 

Have a blessed day,

Goodheart Ministries

Perseverance for Success

Today God Is First By Os Hillman

“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Rom. 5:2-4).

Perseverance is the key to every great accomplishment because nothing of lasting value has ever been achieved without it. Industrialist Henry Ford is one of the great success stories of American history, but he failed in business five times before he succeeded. A Ford Motor Company employee once asked his boss the secret of success, and Henry Ford replied, “When you start a thing, don’t quit until you finish it.”

The path ahead of you is strewn with obstacles. People will oppose you. There will be financial setbacks, time pressures, illnesses and misfortunes. Some of the biggest obstacles will be inside of you: self-doubt, insecurity, procrastination, and worry. You must give yourself permission to succeed.

When we persevere through adversity, we win the approval of our Lord Jesus Christ, who told the suffering church at Ephesus, “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. . . . You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary” (Rev. 2:2-3). That, I’m sure, is the same commendation Joseph received from God when he passed the perseverance test.

Perseverance is a refusal to quit. It’s falling down 100 times and getting back up 101 times. We need to remember that perseverance is not a matter of forcing doors to open; it’s standing in front of the doors as long as it takes before God chooses to open them.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. The race doesn’t go to the swiftest, but to those who don’t give up. We need endurance in order to deal with the stress of adversity. We must maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and get plenty of rest. People give up or give out when they feel depleted – when they physically, emotionally and spiritually run out of gas.

When going through adversity, watch out for pessimists, blamers and toxic personalities. Beware of people who try to talk you out of your dreams and goals. Spend time with optimists and encouragers. Seek out people of faith.

Persevere to the end.