Our King Went First

Friday, July 24, 2026

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, open my heart and mind, Holy Spirit. Fill my consciousness and complete Your joy in me as I t

ake up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: 1 John 1:8–9

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the 

truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all 

unrighteousness.

Verse of the day-Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Today’s reading: Psalm 35-36 Acts 25 

He has Gone First

One of our brothers lost everything in the lower story of his home in the 2026 flood of Kerrville. I visited and met him coming around the corner of the house as his son helped him walk. He did not appear as a man who had any trouble. He is feeble, yes, but his heart full of the Lord’s joy shown on his face and in his words.

For many of us in times of real trouble and tragedy, the facts of the cross and resurrection and the return of Christ, frankly are of little comfort.

This is the time when we must see our Christ Jesus as the king, our king, who charged into battle first. He is first of all our king who suffered in the garden with such pressure that he sweated blood(Luke 22:44). In this we must see He is with us in our depression. He was there first. He felt the weight of the sin of the world on Him and said, “My soul is sorrowful, even unto death”(Matthew 26:38).

Jesus felt depression and despair-He felt it-He feels our depression and despair. We are never alone in our feelings.

I have said to myself, “Things just keep getting worse”.

Last year, we lost many lives on our river and much property. This year we lost 2 lives. Many more homes were lost in town than last year-but God’s people keep fighting and helping and giving and working while folks feel the anguish of all the loss.

Our dear friend whose joy is great in His loss knows this joy of Christ because He has never lost faith. He has not lost faith because He has faithfully known that Christ was here first. Christ walked into the face of death for us and felt all our pain and feels all our pain now.

When we feel as though we are hanging over a cliff by one hand, we must know Christ is the hand that holds us and nothing can make His grip fail.

John 10:29 “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”

John 10:28 “ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

God knows your pain-so tell Him your fears and doubts and ask Him to increase your faith and heal your heart.

...because He loves you, He will do it…

Father in Heaven,

Help me to feel praise for you in my pain. I want to feel the peace of Your kingdom and the power of Your joy in me. Give me the will to fight with your strength. Forgive me my weak faith. Lead me away from despair.

Our King who went into battle for us first,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen