Daily Devotional
Jesus Chose to Save Us
“And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’ Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.”
Luke 22:41-43
March 26, 2024
Ponder This
Jesus paid a price. You will never know the agony the Son of God endured on the cross. He didn’t have to die; He had a choice. And Jesus said, “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Adam, following Satan in the garden of Eden, said, “Not thy will, but mine” and ruined the race. Jesus, in another garden, as the last Adam said, “not My will, but Yours,” and redeemed the race. That’s the consumption of the cup. The Lord Jesus willingly, voluntarily, vicariously, and victoriously said not my will but Yours. Had He said no, every one of us would have separated from God forever. But because Jesus suffered, bled, and died on that cross, you and I can be redeemed. Jesus took my sin and your sin, and He carried it to the cross.
In today’s passage, Jesus was wrestling. Was He wrestling with God the Father? No, never. The great desire of his heart was to please the Father. Was He wrestling with Satan? He never needed to. He had absolute authority over Satan. He was wrestling with Himself. He was wrestling between His humanity and His love, but where did He land? “Not My will, but Yours, be done.”
- When was a time you fought to get your way with God? How did that turn out?
- How would your life look different if you chose to say, “not my will, but Yours, be done”?
Practice This
Consider one area of your life where you are holding onto your own will and way over God’s. Ask Him for direction and help.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
