... [F]or the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. While Holy Week and Easter have passed, I do want to read to completion John Piper's 50-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #48: To Gain His Joy and Ours. In today's devotion, Piper gets to it right away: "[t]he path that leads to joy is a hard road. It’s hard for us, and it was hard for Jesus. It cost him his life. It may cost us ours." We are then referred to Hebrews 12:2 where the author of the text shares that Jesus willingly endured the agony of His death on the cross because He was focused on the joy Heaven. Piper continues by describing "the joy set before Him" as joy on many levels, including "reunion with His Father," "triumph over sin," "divine rights restored," and "being surrounded with praise by all the people for whom He died" - see also Psalm 16:11, Hebrews 1:3, 12:2, and Luke 15:7. Piper than makes clear that this joy is not just for Him but for all of those who believe in Him - see also John 15:11. Yet this joy for believers comes at a cost as Piper returns to how the devotion began - our path to joy will be hard. Piper points us to John 16:33, Matthew 10:24-25, and Luke 21:16-17. At the same time, the devotion does offer us great encouragement by referring us to how "our hope of joy empowers us to suffer with him." See Matthew 5:11-12. This hard path for Christ was the only way that we could have the Good News that Jesus Christ died for us, rose from the dead, ascended to Heaven, and for those who believe in Him they shall have eternal life - see John 3:16. Piper ends the devotion by pointing us to Romans 8:18 and Psalm 30:5 where the text describes the "glory that is to be revealed to us," and the "joy [that] comes with the morning." Rejoice for the joy set before us!
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My Prayer: Father God, You are an incredible God that willingly went to the cross so that I could have life with You via the Holy Spirit and for eternity with You in Heaven! Thank You God - the greatest gift of all time. I am not deserving of such blessings. My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
