DEVOTIONAL INSIGHTS & REFLECTIONS

Via Dolorosa - Way/Road of Suffering, November 26

There have been times in my life where I pushed resolutions, resisted God's leading out of fear of the unknown. Other times I pushed for things that I wanted---even though God was clearly leading me in a different direction, a path I was not eager to follow. Each and every time resistance and self-will resulted in heartache.

In times of suffering---once I realize God is at work in the midst of it (and sometimes that takes a while)---I am able rest in and find solace in Him (in His presence). I relish in His closeness and begin to see His divine purposes accomplished through me as a direct result of the "required" suffering. I always come out the other side significantly changed for the better. These sufferings for me have always created humility, thankfulness and a deeper walk with Him.

Jesus teaches us to carry our cross---as He had a cross to bear for all mankind, we too have a cross to bear... and sometimes different crosses at different times. Each of us has our own "via dolorosa" (road of suffering), we must walk in this life.

Remember the apostle Paul, he had a "thorn in the flesh" that the Lord would not remove because that "thorn" (a continual bother to Paul) had a divine purpose, and it kept Paul humble while mightily used of God.

In Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, he says "For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong." ~2 Corinthians 12:6-13

A prophetic Word from Zechariah, to the Israelites, ..."It will come about in all the land," Declares the LORD, "That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; But the third will be left in it. "And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, They are My people,' And they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'" ~Zechariah 13:8-9

Jesus followed the Father's will all the way to the cross, and because of His obedience, we now have a accessible way to the Father, but we must come through the cross of Christ. Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by Me." (See John 14:6.)

"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I decided to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.…" ~1 Corinthians 2:1-3

And in Paul's letter to Timothy, he says, "…my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.…" ~2 Timothy 3:11-13

Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you!