Philippians 1:29 NASB
For to you it has been granted
for Christ’s sake,
not only to believe in Him,
but also to suffer for His sake,
Devotional
Matthew 27:19-26 NASB
¹⁹While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.”
²⁰But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.
²¹But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”
²²Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!”
²³And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”
²⁴When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.”
²⁵And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!”
²⁶Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
In the cross of Christ I glory.
For centuries, one of the most important cities of Asia Minor was Smyrna. The city lies on a hillside that slopes toward the sea. At the top of the hill stand two gnarled cypress trees. Between the trees is a grave. It is said to be the grave of Polycarp.
Polycarp was a convert of the Apostle John, and was for may years the bishop of Smyrna, Ephesus, and the surrounding region.
He was burned at the stake in A.D. 155 by order of the Roman government. With his arms pinioned and fagots piled high around him, he was given a last chance to recant.
On the contrary, Polycarp confirmed his faith in the Lord.
He said: “Eighty six years have I served Him, and He hath done me no wrong. How
then can I speak evil of my King who saved me?”
Before he could say more, the furious flames consumed his body.
The way of the cross was Polycarp’s way home.
Prayer suggestions
▪︎ Thank the Father, that His Son, our Savior, tasted death for each of you.
▪︎ Ask the Lord that He will reveal to you, what the meaning of the way of the cross is.
▪︎ Ask the Lord to give you the grace, and the courage to follow it.
▪︎ Thank the Father, that you may know that, because of Jesus’s death, you will find eternal glory at the end.
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
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