DEVOTIONAL

“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,” 1 Peter 2:21 NASBS

Christian, in this life there will be many hardships, struggles, and temptations that you have to face. Therefore, put your hope completely on the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the author and perfecter of your faith. He is the one who called you out of the catacombs of the dead and breathed new life into your spirit. So then, submit yourself to His word and allow every intimate detail of your life to be governed by His truth. “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO committed NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” Never forget, beloved of God, the grace of Jesus is sufficient for you, for His power is made perfect and your weakness. “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” Oh, the blessed Christ, for He is the one Who drank the full cup of His Father’s wrath that day when He was nailed to the cross. For this reason He is able to save you from eternal ruin, snatching you from the fires of hell, and justifying you with His grace.

It is only this grace that comes from an eternal, omniscient God that is able to comfort you in the midst of your fiery trials. The word of God teaches us that, “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus loves you with an everlasting love. Christian, when you stumble, He will pick you up again; when you are sad, He will console you with his promises; if you become dull towards him, he will quicken your spirit, for his banner over you is love. He has engraved your name in the lamb’s book of life with His blood. So, if you can only bring Him your tears, He will combine them with His own tears, as He once wept with deep suffering and anguish. If you’re able to only bring Him groans and sighs, He will accept them as an offering of love, as He once had a broken heart and sighed heavily in spirit. Perhaps the besetting sin that once ensnared you has raised its hand through the grave and grasped hold of you again. Remember, “He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered and He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” Christian, though the floods of temptation try to pull you under their mighty current, arm yourself with the sufferings of Christ. Prepare yourself for battle valiant warrior, and withstand the mighty blows of the devil, for he is a defeated foe. Never forget, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”