If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see
his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be accomplished
through him. (Isaiah 53:10)
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. (Luke
23:46)
For we do not have
a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has
similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. (Hebrews
4:15)
When
Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he
handed over the spirit.
(John 19:30)
Piety
Jesus, help
me to say, “It is finished” to the parts of my life that displease you.
Study
And so he
died, for the most part abandoned by his friends and the adoring throngs who
had accompanied him much of the past three years. That’s what happens when you
challenge earthly authorities, it seems. That’s what happens when you stand up
for God and those two greatest commandments.
And if we
truly desire to grow ever closer to the Father, it’s what happens to us as
well. It happens not only when we breathe our last, but when we put aside a
displeasing behavior… and lose our companions in addiction or chicanery. It
happens when we shut down a gossipy conversation… and anger a friend, no matter
how diplomatic we are about it. It happens when we stand up for religious
freedom, to the astonishment of those who assume that because we look like them
and dress like them, we always think like them.
Death. If
we listen to the Lord, it comes to us every day. And leaves us stronger and
more faithful in its wake.
Action
What about
your life needs to be put aside today so that you may serve the Lord with all
your heart, soul and being?
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