Tues., 12/8/15 Devotion (Lk. 22:43)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 22:43, where we read these words:

"Then an angel appeared to Him [Jesus] from heaven, strengthening Him."

All God's churchmen need strength. Even the very Captain of our souls, the Head of the church Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, did. A lot of times we chil-dren of God find ourselves in trouble, or need. Naturally, we call out to God for deliverance and freedom (from what afflicts us). But what oftentimes the Lord chooses to do, is *not* to immediately extricate us from our problem—but to use it as a great opportunity to make us stronger.

After all: this happened with our Savior Himself. He is in the Garden of Geth-semane, He is in agony and anguish; and His Father chooses to give Him strength to endure the looming cross, (rather than a way around it). This is certainly something for us to think about today. . . .

[Puritan quote of the day: "The nature of God is lovely in Christ, and our na-ture in Christ is lovely to Him.” —Richard Sibbes, in "Glorious Freedom"]