Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:41-44 NLT).

For those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour there is power in his blood to heal, deliver and restore. However, we often forget the real agony that he went through to obtain our salvation.  The writer of Hebrews calls it ‘a great salvation’ and asks the question, ‘how shall we escape if we ignore it?’ (Hebrew 2:3). Here the writer of Hebrews is telling us that the message of salvation was first told to us by angels, but it was practically demonstrated to us by one who is greater than the angels. And having gone through the pain and agony to achieve this salvation he is now seated at the right hand of the father on the throne in heaven.

From our passage, we see Jesus preparing to take on the greatest enemy we all face, death. He reveals his humanity in that he prays to the father to see if there is another way to deliver this great salvation to humanity.  But after praying fervently for hours until his sweat became like drops of blood, he declares that the will of the father is the overriding factor.

When we have to make important decisions it is imperative that we spend extended time in prayer. The agony of spirit that Jesus expressed prepared him for the beatings, the nine inch nails that were driven into his hands, the sword thrust into his side and the complete humiliation of hanging naked on a cross for all to see.

So today don’t neglect your salvation, it is great because a great price was paid for it!

Pray this prayer: Dear Father thank you for my salvation that was achieved on the cross, in Jesus’ name amen.

 Read Hebrews 2