March 17, 2006
Psa 119:87 KJV They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
Jesus is better to us than He was to Himself. Even in extreme human suffering, He always makes a way to escape that we may be able to bear it (I Cor 10:13).
Christian martyrs had that supernatural way of “escape”. Under excruciating torture and death, they were smiling and still able to comfort others. But Jesus had to pay the full price in order to fully atone for the sin of mankind. For example, as he was grossly and falsely accused of death deserving blasphemy, and while being gnashed upon and stoned, Stephen was comforted by a vision of His LORD in His glory (Acts 7:55-60). On the contrary, Jesus had to die the lonely God-forsaken death of the sinner, crying and searching for a God that seemed to have forsaken Him (Mat 27:46).
To not “forsake” His precepts when it seems that we are “almost consumed upon earth” is a way of life. If we easily forsake His precepts in the daily small trials and tribulations today, what makes us think that when retaining the precepts of God will incur the curse of the world in the days to come--causing even the denial of our daily necessities— we will be able to resist denying Him and His precepts? The day of review will tell of our practice.
Oh LORD; only your supernatural grace can help me to see YOU when all is dark, hear YOU midst hellish shouts, feel YOU though you seem far, gain YOU though all seems lost.
Heb 11:24-27 KJV By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; (25) Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (26) Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. (27) By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
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