AND THEY ALL FORSOOK HIM + Daily Devotion + Tuesday, March 27, 2012

TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012

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 ran alone 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 the day he stood trial in Rome.  “At my first answer no man 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 He rode into Jerusalem 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 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 that great host 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.  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 fall for everything. 

And then I think of my own choices.  How often have I followed the crowd rather than identify with 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 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”

A NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME + Daily Devotional + Thursday, March 8, 2012

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

Philippians 2:9 “…A name which is above every name…”

SCRIPTURE READING: PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

REFLECTION:  Before He was born He had a name.  Luke tells us, “His name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:21)

Some have names with no specific significance.  Some have significant names but no significant success.  But Jesus had a significant name with matchless success. 

The angels in heaven will sing of the Crucified: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” (Revelation 5:12). “Things in heaven.” (Philippians 2:10)

Every part of the creation that Christ himself spoke into existence, both animate and inanimate, every one in every place, in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea, will declare of the Risen One, “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever!”(Revelation 5:13). “Things in earth, and things under the earth.” (Philippians 2:10)

Yet only the sanctified children of God will testify of their Savior, “THOU WAST SLAIN AND HAST REDEEMED US TO GOD BY THY BLOOD…” (Revelation 5:9). That’s a song the holy angels cannot sing.

What of those who neglect and reject our Jesus?  What of those who have blasphemed His name? What of the many who have no regard for His name—who carelessly take his name in vain? 

Ah they too shall confess in that day!  For “Every knee should bow…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Without exception, everyone will bow. 

It is not IF we bow that settles our eternal destiny, for all will bow at the last judgment.  It is WHEN we bow, and when we confess, that finally determines whether we will hear, “depart from me,” or “enter thou into the joys of thy Lord.” 

PRAYER:  Our Father, Hallowed be thy name!  From the depths of our hearts we thank you for sending your only Begotten Son to be:

our Advocate,

the Bread of Life,

the Christ of God,

the Dayspring from on High,

the Everlasting Father,

the First and the Last,

the Good Shepherd,

the Holy One of Israel,

the great I AM,

Jehovah,

the King of Kings,

the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,

a Man of Sorrows,

the Nazarene,

the Only Begotten Son,

our Prophet, Priest, and King,

the Quencher of thirst for the water of life,

the Resurrection and Life,

the Sun of Righteousness,

the Truth,

the Unleavened bread that came down from heaven,

the Vine of whom we are but branches,

the true Witness,

him who speaks from His more Xcellent glory,

the Yea and Amen, and

the Savior of Zacchaeus! And our Savior too!

In the name above every other name, the name of Jesus, Amen. Our Father, &c.