40 Days of Easter 2011 Devotional April 7

40 Days of Easter - April 7, 2011
Written by: Layne Tomaselli

Trials that Transform
Passage: Matthew 26:47-56

Key Verse: Matthew 26:56

Trials and stressful circumstances come into all our lives so often that the saying that "you are either in a trial, just coming our of one, or about to head straight into one" is almost cliche'. Jesus warned us about these trials (John 15:19-21) and also set an example for us to follow when we face these trials.

In this passage we see Jesus facing one of these trials. Those who opposed Jesus were coming to take Him away. Verse 47 tells us this crowd came with swords and clubs. This was not a peaceful circumstance. They were coming for Him in anger. But, when we look at Jesus? response, we see that He stood firm. He never retaliated, never yelled, never laid a hand on one of these people. He was calm. In the face of a great trial, He simply accepted it. Don?t be mistaken; He had a way out if He chose to take it (v.53), but He understood that this trial came for a purpose.

In verse 56 Jesus reminds us that all these trials happened to fulfill scripture. The very scripture this crowd had learned from birth was being fulfilled right in front of them (Isaiah 53). All of this happened so that the world could see that God is who He says He is and does what He says He will.

When the Word of God is being fulfilled in our lives, things won?t be easy, but it will be worth it. From this passage, God shows us three different responses to His movement. We can FIGHT AGAINST His movement like the crowd did. We can COWARDLY RUN AWAY for a season like His disciples did. Or, we can STAND FIRM, believing that God is moving in our lives to accomplish His purpose and accepting what He is doing in our lives as Christ did.

Application:
How do I respond to God?s movement in my life? Do I FIGHT, RUN AWAY, or STAND FIRM when I see God working in my life?

Prayer:
Lord, Open my eyes to Your movement in my life. Help me to understand that the trials You bring into my life serve to accomplish Your purpose. Help me to STAND FIRM when trials come, believing that You will do what you say you will. Thank You for choosing to work through me to bring glory and honor to Yourself. Amen.