Cross

Did God Say No? In the Shadow of the Cross

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And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.            Matthew 26:39 KJV

Do you ever wonder if God is listening to your prayers? Does it sometimes feel as if your desires are somehow out of line with the universe? But what about Jesus? Didn’t He pray for God to work out some way that didn’t include the cross? Did God say “No” to Him?

Maybe God’s answer to our prayers is not what we hope for but He looks far ahead past our struggles just as in Gethsemane. On the third day we can see that Jesus wasn’t being ignored and neither are we today. We are each being listened to by a loving Father who quietly waits between our “If it is possible” and “Nevertheless not as I will”. Even when the situation looks hopeless; God not only hears, but He is mysteriously preparing an answer beyond anything we can imagine. When we pray and the answer seems far away we need to remind ourselves that Jesus first drank the bitterness of His cup to later exchange it for a joy that lay beyond the grave.

 

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Prayer: Father -some days it seems that trials are all that lie ahead. Some days it feels as if my prayers are unanswered, but I know that you are listening. Help me to trust that your will is far better than mine and that on the other side of this darkness is a joy that will never fade away.

Interrupted by Love Lenten Reading

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A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. Luke 22:24 ESV

A funny thing happened on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Cross. Jesus had just finished giving them the bread and the wine as the holiest of sacraments and while supper was ending the disciples began arguing with each other about who was most important. Can you imagine with me Jesus striking his forehead and crying “Oy Vey? These disciples are making me crazy!”?

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We may chuckle at the absurdity of that scene but just as the supper in its various forms has been remembered for 2,000 years; so has the conflict among us as to who is the best. One way to honor this Easter season might be to do something daring in the service of others. Why not pray for a door of service outside our comfort zone? Whatever service God leads us to we need to remember the example that Jesus gave us when He interrupted their argument in order to wash the feet of His disciples!

Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:5 ESV

Running to the Finish Line

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Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 KJV

As a long distance runner in high school, I learned early on that my toughest competition came from my own body and mind. At the starting gun my mind wanted to race ahead but our coach had taught us to start slowly. When I paced myself I discovered that later on in the race, I still had the strength to press on to the final lap. My recent retirement followed by our move to Florida brought on far more stress and anxiety than I had imagined.

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Suddenly I had no lunch to pack, no schedule to keep and no one coming by. It felt as if the road I had been traveling on for most of my life was a dead end. I found myself sleepless with anxiety and fear swirling around me. There I remembered that Jesus as He had hung alone on the cross, had cried out, “My God My God why have you forsaken me?” With no one who could understand and no deliverance at hand He endured it all for me. Humbled and grateful I remembered His example and loving sacrifice. In that dark hour long ago, another man on a cross next to Jesus cried out in pain and fear. Then Jesus, put aside His own suffering, forgave him and promised to personally welcome him to paradise that day.

Prayer: Father – Help me to remember that You endured the terrible cross for me. Remind me that I don’t need to be afraid because just You are the beginning of my faith You have also promised to help me run all the way to its finish line.