DEVOTION + THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE FORSAKEN

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

Matthew 26:56 “…Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled…”

SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 26:55-57

⁵⁵In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

 ⁵⁶But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
 ⁵⁷And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

REFLECTION: 

Elijah was inducted on the day he alone challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. (1 Kings 18)

Daniel joined the day he disobeyed the King, and knelt to pray alone. (Daniel 6)

David was admitted when as a lad he alone ran to face Goliath. (1 Samuel 17)

Jeremiah was accepted when he was thrown into a dungeon and was left to starve and sink in the mire.  He alone had the courage to tell the King what he did not want to hear. (Jeremiah 38)

The Apostle Paul was included on the day he stood trial in Rome.  "At my first answer no one stood with me, but all men forsook me." (2 Timothy 4:16).

And Jesus, the Captain of this band, stood alone to face trial--"all the disciples forsook him and fled." 

It is "THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE FORSAKEN."

Ah there were great crowds and calls for Christ to be crowned King when He fed the multitudes.  But when the dinners stopped the crowds disappeared.

There were multitudes waving palms and shouting "Hosanna," when Jesus rode into Jerusalem hailed as a King. But when the parade was over and the party became a prayer vigil, and the prayer vigil turned into a vicious ordeal of false accusation and suffering, Jesus was left standing alone.

Heroes of the faith--those whose lives are immortalized on the pages of Scripture, those who we admire in the annuls of Christian history (i.e. Justin Martyr, Huss, Luther, Knox, Wesley, and Bonhoeffer), and those unknown to men but certainly known by God--are all numbered with "THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE FORSAKEN."

Too often we measure success by the numbers of men who are standing with us.  God is looking for men who will stand with Him--and stand with Him alone.  Jesus stood alone for us.  Will we stand alone for Him?

I wonder how those disciples could have forsaken our Lord--every last one of them?  I am amazed at the professing Christians I see today--talk about a bunch of "forsakers."  They will not stand for anything, and yes, they are falling for everything.

And then I think of my own choices.  How often have I followed the crowd rather than identify with the Christ?  How often have I sacrificed my integrity at the altar of popularity or expediency?  How often have I refused to stand with Christ at a specific point of obedience He has required?

God grant that with His help we will never again forsake, but faithfully serve Him in "THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE FORSAKEN." 

PRAYER: Our Father, Which art in Heaven, Blessed be the Father, Blessed be the Son, and Blessed be the Holy Spirit.  We give you all the praise for your great work of redemption and for granting us glorious freedom. We pray that we would be so filled with all the fullness of God that your strength would be made perfect in our weakness.  We pray that today and everyday, we would stand for Thee, even if we must stand alone.  If and when we must stand, may we do so in a right spirit and such a winsome way that others will be drawn to stand with you.  In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen. “Our Father, &c”