LIFELINK DEVOTIONAL

Friday, April 10, 2020

Recently I have heard several people use the phrase, “Well, it’s in God’s hands now.” I have wanted to ask them, “When has it NOT been in God’s hands?” I wonder how many things there are in our lives that we say are in God’s hands, when what we really mean is that they are in our hands until we give up and lose control, and then they’re in God’s hands. I challenge us to consider that even then, we don’t really mean it. We still want to have a say in the solution.

Hanging on the cross, Jesus has completed the work the Father had given Him. He fully carried the weight of the world’s sin to the Judgement Seat of God and endured the full effects of God’s wrath. The payment for mankind’s redemption was almost complete. One thing remained: DEATH. Jesus said,

“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46)

This is the final statement that we have from Jesus on the cross. Everything had been completed and now it was time to dismiss His spirit. What an incredible statement of trust in the love of His Father. Jesus would commend His spirit (deposit for protection) to the Father for safe-keeping. No one took His life from Him. Jesus willingly gave His life for you and me, and He fully trusted the outcome to the Father.

John 10:17-18 “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

That’s quite a lesson of trust for us to learn. Think of all the things that are going wrong in your life today. Now think of how many of them you really trust God to manage? Turn those numbers into a ratio, and discover your trust level. Let’s say you determine you have 6 things wrong, but you have fully trusted only two of them to God. The other four you are still working to resolve in your own wisdom and strength. That’s 2 over six, or one-third. You trust rating is 33%. Are you satisfied with that?

Jesus commended, or deposited for protection, 100% of the outcome of His death to the Father. Not just a sickness, but DEATH. He fully deposited His very life to the hands of the Father. And look what happened. RESURRECTION and GLORY!

I wonder how much of the power of God would be displayed in our midst today if we raised our trust rating?

Thank you Jesus, for dying for our sins, and while you did, for teaching us to be forgiving, compassionate, and trusting.

Pastor John