Have there ever been such hope filled words as these? Listen:
“When Jesus had tasted it, he said, ‘It is finished!’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Jn 19:30 NLT
It IS finished! We no longer have to fight with the powers of sin and darkness, nor the dark one. Jesus already won the war! Yet we do continue to struggle, don’t we? Yes, we do struggle and there is absolutely nothing wrong with struggling. It’s when we give up that’s the problem. This is how we grow. I heard a story about how someone was watching a butterfly struggling to get out of its cocoon. Feeling sorry for the “poor” creature, this person cut open the shelter to free it. Immediately, the butterfly fell to the ground because it could not fly. Apparently, it is as the butterfly struggles to get out of its encasement that a fluid builds on its wings so that it can fly. This is what is happening to us as we struggle with our flaws and weaknesses. It strengthens us so that we can overcome whatever comes our way. The Good News, of course is, that we never have to struggle alone! With His help, His guidance, His peace and joy, victory can be ours here, and now too.
Because Jesus already won the war, because Heaven is the only destination for those who believe in Him as Savior and Lord, any battles we now find ourselves in, we fight with Jesus at our side. Too often we forget this, don’t we? We try to earn victory over our troubles all on our own? Hmmm…we will talk about this next week in detail. Today let’s simply praise Jesus that “It IS finished!”
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
January: 1- Jn 3:16; 2- 2Co 5:17; 3- Jas 2:26; 4- Eph 2:10
February: 5- Jn 10:10; 6- Ro 6:23; 7- Rev 21:4; 8- Php 4:13
March: 9- 1Pe 5:7; 10- Jn 8:32; 11- Dt 30:19; 12- Jn 3:30; 13- 2Chron 20:3
April: 14- 2Chron 20:12
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Holy Week break: Lk 23:34; Lk 23:43; Jn 19:26; Mt 27:26; Jn 19:28; Jn 19:30
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<>< Peace, Diane
