had human
flesh just like
yours and
mine; so it was
not easy for
Him to face the
sufferings of the
Cross. That is why
He prayed to His Father
twice saying, O my Father,
if it be possible, let this cup
pass from me: nevertheless not as I
will, but as thou wilt. He went away again
the second time, and prayed, saying, O
my Father, if this cup may not pass away
from me, except I drink it, thy will be done
(Matthew 26:39,42). Jesus endured great sorrow
and agony, but He didn’t please Himself
because He knew the Cross had to be conquered
for all of us.
True Joy Comes from God
When Moses chose to suffer affliction with
the people of God rather than enjoy the pleasures
of Egypt, he wasn’t without joy. He
just received his joy from a different source.
Moses was in line to be the ruler over Egypt
after Pharaoh, so he could have had anything
he wanted; but the Bible says, By faith
Moses, when he was come to years, refused
to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
Choosing rather to suffer affliction
with the people of God, than to enjoy the
pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming
the reproach of Christ greater riches than
the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect
unto the recompence of the reward
(Hebrews 11:24–26). Moses had
realized that there was nothing at
the end of the way without Lord
God Almighty.
Jesus said,
If any man
will come
after me, let
him deny himself,
and take
up his cross, and
follow me (Matthew
16:24). When you obey
what Jesus said, the devil
will try to deceive you into
thinking you will never again have
any joy or pleasure in this life; but he is a liar.
It is true that when you bear your cross, you
will suffer in the flesh; but that doesn’t mean
you will no longer have any joy. You will be
happy; but your joy and pleasure will come
from God, not from man or the world.
Jesus came to Earth for the sole purpose of
bringing a world out of bondage, but there was
a cross He had to bear. He suffered much in
the flesh, but He endured His suffering for the
great joy of seeing you and me saved one day.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher
of our faith; who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand
of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). That
was not the kind of joy this world could give;
it was joy that came from loving the things of
God more than the things of men.
Jesus knew He was going to suffer at the
hands of men as He bore His Cross, and you
too will suffer as you bear your cross. If you
are not willing to do that, you will never be
able to follow Jesus. His pleasure came from
doing the will of the Father, and that is where
yours must come from too. Jesus saith
unto them, My meat is to do the
will of him that sent me, and to
finish his work (John 4:34).
When Jesus lived on Earth, He
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