The Joy Of Obedience

This cup of blessing

A cup of rememberance

A cup of judgement

“After our Lord’s death was over, the blood of animals was not the type, but the blood of the grape. That which was terrible in prospect is joyous in remembrance. That which was blood in the shedding is wine in the receiving. It came from him with a wound, but it comes to us with a blessing.” C.H. Spurgeon

Jesus has not only taken away this cup of wrath, He has provided a cup of a new relationship, the one provided by his blood shed on the cross.  This is a cup of forgiveness and grace, of relationship with the God of the universe Himself.

Love is that liquor sweet and most divine Which my God feels as blood; but I, as wine.

From “The Agony” – George Herbert

But I wonder today …

§        Are we keeping our distance from someone who could benefit from our nearness?

§        Are we choosing to stay one step removed from the ugliness of someone’s life or problems?

§        Have we stilled ourselves long enough in His presence to hear the voice of his uncomfortable challenge?

§        Perhaps there is a death to something that God is asking of us that we are stubbornly resisting?

Heb 12:2 - Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

On the other side of the death experience is life … and that life brings great joy. Let us eat and drink in rememberance of Him who saw our wretchedness – far worse than any leper, but in obedience to the call of the Father, he denied himself, bore our sin and took up his cross.