Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

"Around mid-afternoon [from the cross] Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly ... 'My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?'"¹

Tom Miller wrote about the following experience:

My nine-year-old daughter Jennifer was looking forward to our family's mini-vacation, but when our vacation arrived, she became ill, and a long anticipated day at Sea World was replaced by an all-night series of CAT scans, X-rays, and blood work at a hospital.

As morning approached, the doctors told my exhausted little girl that she needed to have one more test, a spinal tap. The procedure would be painful, they said. The doctor then asked me if I planned to stay in the room. I nodded my head, knowing I couldn't leave Jennifer alone during her ordeal.

The doctor gently asked Jennifer to remove all her clothing. She looked at me with childlike modesty as if to ask if that were all right. Then they had her curl into a tiny ball. I buried my face in hers and hugged her.

Jennifer cried as the needle went in. As the searing pain increased, she sobbingly repeated, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy," her voice becoming more earnest with each word. It was as if she was saying, "Oh, Daddy, this hurts so badly. Please, can't you do something?"

My tears mingled with hers. My heart was broken. I felt nauseous. Because I loved her, I allowed her to go through the most agonizing experience of her life, and I could hardly stand it.

In the middle of the procedure, my thoughts went to the cross of Christ. What unspeakable pain both the Son and God the Father endured for our sakes. We owe a debt that can never be fully paid. The best thing we can do is give ourselves as living sacrifices.²

Ed. Note: If you've never truly thanked Jesus for dying on the cross to pay the penalty for all your sins and received God's gift of forgiveness and eternal life, why not do that today by praying this simple prayer: "Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner and am sorry for all the wrongs that I have done. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for my sins. Please forgive me and I invite you, Jesus, to come into my heart and life as Lord and Savior. I commit and trust my life to you. Please give me the desire to be what you want me to be and the desire to do what you want me to do. Thank you for dying for my sins, for your free pardon, for your gift of eternal life, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen."

If you prayed this prayer and genuinely meant it, please let us know by filling in the reply form at: www.actsweb.org/decision.php

1. Matthew 27:46 (The Message).
2. KneEmail at http://www.oakhillcoc.org.

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