The Battle

The Battle

As artillery fell around him with an earth-shaking whoomp, the young soldier prayed fervently, " Lord, if you get me through this, I'll go to that Bible school Mom wanted me to attend." God honored his focused prayer. My dad survived World War 2, went to Moody Bible Institute, and invested his life in ministry.

Another warrior endured a different crisis that drove him to God, but his problems arose when he avoided combat. As King David's troops fought the Ammonites, David was back at his palace casting more than just a glance at another man's wife. In Psalm 39, David chronicles the painful process of restoration from the terrible sin that resulted. " The turmoil within me grew worse, " he wrote. " The more I thought about it, the hotter I got."

David's broken spirit caused him to reflect: " Show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is." Amid his renewed focus, David didn't despair. He had nowhere else to turn. " But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you." David would survive this personal battle and go on to serve God.

What motivates our prayer life doesn't matter as much as the focus of our prayer. God is our source of hope. He wants us to share our heart with Him.

Father, our hope is in You. Forgive us for seeking answers apart from You. Draw us close to You today.

We are in the best place we can imagine when we go to God in prayer.

John 16:17-24

Some of the disciples asked each other, " What does he mean when he says, ' In a little while you won't see me, but then you will see me, ' and ' I am going to the Father'? And what does he mean by ' a little while'? We don't understand."
    Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, " Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won't see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won't need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you have abundant joy."

Pain with a Purpose

I asked several friends what their most difficult, most painful experience in life had been. Their answers included war, divorce, surgery, and the loss of a loved one. My wife's reply was, " The birth of our first child." It was a long and difficult labor in a lonely army hospital. But looking back, she said considers it joyful " because the pain had a big purpose."
     Just before Jesus went to the cross, He told His followers they were about to go through a time of great pain and sorrow. The Lord compared their coming experience to that of a woman during childbirth when her anguish turns to joy after her child is born. " So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy"
     Sorrow comes to us all along the road of life. " Because of the joy awaiting him, [ Jesus] endured the cross, disregarding it's shame", purchasing forgiveness and freedom for all who open their hearts to Him. His painful sacrifice accomplished God's eternal purpose of opening the way to friendship and fellowship with Him.
     The joy of our Savior outweighed His suffering, just as the joy He gives us overshadows all our pain.
    Suffering can be like a magnet that draws the Christian close to Christ.

MATTHEW 21:1-11

As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. " Go into the village over there," he said. " As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, " The Lord needs them,' and he will immediately let you take them." This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, " Tell the people of Jerusalem, ' Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey-riding on a donkey's colt.' "
    The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.
    Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, " Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!"
    The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. " Who is this?" they asked. And the crowds replied, " It's Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
   

Who Are You?

From time to time, we read of people who are offended at not being treated with what they consider due respect and deference. " Do you know who I am?" they shout indignantly. And we are reminded of the statement, " If you have to tell people who you are, you probably really aren't who you think you are." The polar opposite of this arrogance and self importance is seen in Jesus, even as His life on earth was nearing its end.
    Jesus entered Jerusalem to shouts of praise from the people. When others throughout the city asked, " Who is this?" the crowds answered, " It's Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee". He didn't come claiming special privileges, but in humility He came to give His life in obedience to His Father's will.
     The words Jesus said the things He did commanded respect. Unlike insecure rulers, He never demanded that others respect Him. His greatest hours of suffering appeared to be His lowest point of weakness and failure. Yet, the strength of His idenity and mission carried Jesus through the darkest hours as He died for our sins so that we might live in His love.
    He is worthy of our lives and our devotion today. Do we recognize who He is?
    When once you have seen Jesus, you can never be the same.