Devotions - Read Online

Thursday | 23 February 2012

All contradiction in the cross

We need to apply the subject of weakness, and understand how the offering of Calvary is to become active, right here and now. When contradiction occurs in ourselves or others, we first of all ‘consider Him who endured such contradiction’ against Himself. Through faith in His blood, we determine to draw all contradiction into the cross. This is activated by prayer and supplication, and not by human empathy.

All contradiction was included in His one offering, once for all. We must be careful not to move outside of this as if we are making another offering or His offering was not adequate. We are joining ourselves, others, and the contradiction, to the ministry of Christ’s offering. One who is a minister of Christ is joining the ministry of Christ’s offering. We are confident that this is the context of weakness where life and grace will be multiplied.

In this we are weakened. As Paul said, ‘We also are weak in Him’. We recall that, although Christ began His ministry in power, He was progressively weakened. He accepted the unbelief, grief, sickness and reproach that were laid upon Him – even the apparent failure of His mission that was imputed to Him. As we are ‘weak in Him’, we are drawing the contradictions into the weakness of the cross. Our faith is active in considering that the full extent of His cup of sorrow is now being measured to us, both to the individual who is suffering as well as to those who are making supplication. In this way, when one member suffers, we all suffer.