Reveration Blog
8/12/2008 0 Comments SlappedJoan did everything they asked her. She studied the courses her managers recommended she take. She volunteered for the hard jobs and endured great stress because her leaders believed in her. She won awards for her speaking skills and was recognized by her peers as a superior performer with dynamic people skills. Besides loyalty to her organization, Joan invested much personal time and resources to make the company’s work environment better. When it finally came time for a new human resources manager to be hired, she was sure the company would promote her to the position. But Joan didn’t know that one of the applicants was the owner’s niece. Meditation
John 18:22,23—When He had said these things, one of the temple police standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” “If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why did you hit Me?” Imagine being perfect. Okay, I can’t imagine that since I don’t think I’ve ever even strung 24 faultless hours together! But God’s Son lived perfectly. No mistakes. Every day He said the right things, thought the right things and did the right things. Not one moment of regret. No slips of the tongue. No caustic sarcasm from a bitter heart. He never woke up with a hangover or succumbed to a crabby attitude. He never overindulged the flesh or deceived anyone or even put His own will first; always submitting to His Father’s plan—perfectly! So what did it feel like getting slapped when what He said was right? How did God feel watching His holy Son get whacked by an overzealous jerk? He didn’t fry the culprit with instant lightning. He absorbed the blow emotionally while His Son took the pain physically. Are you one of those persons who did what you thought was right only to get punished unfairly? Have you put forward your best effort for God and then felt like He turned His back on you while ministry or work or your health suffered? Rather than get bitter or dwell on being wronged, remember Jesus got slapped. And that was just the start. He didn’t get what He deserved. Instead He suffered for the undeserving—you and me. His Father let it all happen. You see the lesson is clear. Don’t dwell on the setback—love the Lord. Don’t try to figure out what doesn’t make sense—trust the King. Sometimes God lets us take the blow to test our heart. Sometimes the slap is just the fruit of a sinful world. In the end, it doesn’t matter. The sting will fade—will you? Or will you zealously carry your cross knowing that God has your back and your future! Inspiration No healthy saint ever chooses suffering; he chooses God’s will, as Jesus did, whether it means suffering or not.—Oswald Chambers in My Utmost For His Highest ©2008 Daniel York ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause. If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth. (Holman CSB)
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Photo from Rachel Maxey Miles