DAILY DEVOTIONS with MICHELE

Elijah and Elisha were two men who served God and made every day count. When the whole world opposed them, they believed in the One Who called them. They shaped the world for the glory of God.

Jesus Christ nailed your sin to the Cross. He nailed your past to the Cross. You are not a patched-up, somewhat-improved version of your old self. All the old things passed away, and He made all things brand new. You are a new creation!

We were never promised a primrose path on this earth. We were, however, promised that in Him we could find peace. If we will seek Him, Jesus will carry our burdens no matter how great our load and make a way where none seems to be. He knows our end from the beginning.

The day Jesus died on the Cross looked like a day of total defeat, when in fact it was a day of total victory! From a human perspective, it looked as if the enemy had won. The soldiers were mocking Him. His robe was torn and sold. The sky was gray and dismal. All hope seemed lost.

For those of us whose citizenship is in heaven, we have a conquering King! He marched out to battle against Satan at Calvary. He disarmed every principality and power, stripped away their ability to steal, kill, and destroy; He publicly exposed them as powerless. Like those long-ago citizens of Rome, let us lift up our voices to wildly celebrate our conquering Lord of lords and King of kings!

Before we come to the Cross, the ground of our soul is in question. Our eternal destiny is uncertain. Satan fights ferociously to capture and carry us to hell. Jesus was lifted up on the Cross, hoisted above the battle. His death means certain victory for all who accept His invitation for life everlasting.

Graphic portrayals of Jesus’ journey to Calvary abound. He was arrested, taken, and crucified. However, Jesus made it clear in John 10:18 that no one took His life from Him. He chose to lay it down!

His blood reached us in our faraway, desperate state and pulled us near. Without the Cross, no grace or mercy is extended, no salvation is available. Without the Cross, we cannot be called sons and daughters of the Most High. Without the Cross, we have no reason to rejoice.

Not only does God collect our tears in His bottle, He also records them in His book. Think about the tears that you have cried: when failure disappointed, death shattered your heart, loss uprooted your life, your child deserted his faith, malicious words wounded.