Verse of the Day: 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
Memory of the Month: Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Today's reading: 1 SAMUEL 25-26 LUKE 12:32-59
Finished
Christ did die on a cross to pay for all our sins.
The path to the cross walked and endured by Christ set standards for us we must study. He walked as we walk and suffered as many have or will ever suffer.
Depression from heavy stress comes at us all. Jesus carried a load that none of us will ever have to carry and finished His work. He paid the price for us with ultimate suffering-ultimate shame-death.
Luke 12: (Jesus said,) "50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! NASB
(Jesus said,) 50 There is a kind of baptism that I must suffer through. I feel very troubled until it is finished. Easy-to-Read Version
Hebrews 4:15 ►For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin.
There are countless references in scripture to 'finishing'-overcoming,finishing the race,etc. How we finish will be based on how we emulate or model Christ and that on how well we know Him.
To Jesus, the choice had been made. He knew, for all our sakes, He had to finish the way He finished. He went through the total plan but He mentioned how heavy it was on His soul. He mentioned it so we would know that there is no sin in feeling great trouble or depression. We cannot keep from feeling troubled any less than Jesus could prevent His own.
The question-the big challenge for us- Will we be able to say, 'It is finished' and say it in truth and victory with Jesus?
All that pain and pressure and burden-ended in ultimate victory-eternal bliss.
ULTIMATE VICTORY-ETERNAL CELEBRATION
We know how it ends. We must concentrate hard on the victory at the finish as Jesus did.
Romans 8:31-39Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
31 So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us. 32 He even let his own Son suffer for us. God gave his Son for all of us. So now with Jesus, God will surely give us all things. 33 Who can accuse the people God has chosen? No one! God is the one who makes them right. 34 Who can say that God’s people are guilty? No one! Christ Jesus died for us, but that is not all. He was also raised from death. And now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us. 35 Can anything separate us from Christ’s love? Can trouble or problems or persecution separate us from his love? If we have no food or clothes or face danger or even death, will that separate us from his love? 36 As the Scriptures say,
“For you we are in danger of death all the time.
People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.”
37 But in all these troubles we are more than conquerors through God, who has shown his love for us. 38-39 Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans, chapter 8
Isaiah 50:7 For the Lord God helps Me, Therefore, I have not been ashamed or humiliated. Therefore, I have made My face like flint, And I know that I shall not be put to shame.AMP
In Luke 12:50 Jesus said, "I feel very troubled until it is finished."
And then...
John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
...because He loves us...
Our Father in Heaven,
Grant me the inner will to finish as you finished.
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