Devotional
Just a Minute Devotional #21
Lift your glass of cheer
Look! A time is coming — and is here! — when each of you will be scattered to your own homes, and you will leave me alone. (John 16:32, CEB)
Even though I had left early for my morning walk in the park, the oppressive heat made the air thick and heavy. One by one, the young Marine recruits sprinted past me with the officers' prompting. There was no one to motivate me.
Then, I thought, who cheered Jesus on His path to Calvary? His thorn-crowned brow, mixed with sweat and blood, stung as it ran into His eyes. Though bruised, beaten, and weak, Jesus kept going, even with the weight of a heavy cross.
Taunting words were the only cheers that day.
Did Jesus hear the quiet cheers of His Father above the mocking words? The Bible does not say. Yet, when He cried out for His Father, we have the answer in the rest of John 16:32.
I’m not really alone, for the Father is with me. (John 16:32, CEB)
Can we fathom this kind of love?
His grueling walk made my walk literally ‘a walk in the park.’ My suffering, a mere splinter, pales compared to the nails driven into Jesus. Overwhelmed by this stark contrast, I cried and knelt to pray.
Prayer:
I don’t want the rocks to take my joy, so I lift my cup of cheer to you, Jesus, my champion and my love. Thank you! Amen