Devotional for Friday February 18, 2022
Morning Hebrews 12:1-4
Noon Psalm 2
Evening James 1:2-4
God uses adversities for our spiritual growth and development in the way He wants, but we often resist the process. We tend to focus on the actual events of adversity, instead of looking with eyes of faith to what God is doing in our lives. It was said about Jesus, that “who for joy having been set before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Christ's death on the cross with its intense physical agony and extreme spiritual suffering, enduring the wrath of God for our sins, was the greatest calamity that has ever befallen a human being. But Jesus was able to see beyond the suffering, the joy that was before Him and, as the author of Hebrews wrote, we must fix our eyes on Him and follow His example, looking beyond our adversity to see what God does in our lives, and to rejoice in the assurance that God is working in us for our own growth.
Written by Juan Daniel de la Vega,
Translated by Maria Elena Cardona
Morning Hebrews 12:1-4
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
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.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Noon Psalm 2
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Evening James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Prayer Guide: [Panamá-Panamá Viejo] and [México-San Rafael]
February's challenge: Show love, not only with words but with deeds, to your relatives, to your spiritual brothers and the neighbors. Give them flowers, make a donation when needed, write something special to them, help the needy, feed the hungry, etc. Pray for this daily.
Annual Bible reading: Deuteronomy 6, 7, 8
