Taking the Cup of Bitterness

Matthew 26:39

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus fully accepted His assignment of death on the Cross.  He knew that His sacrifice was necessary for the salvation of all men.  He knew that His death on the Cross was the reason He was sent to earth.  The thing that overwhelmed Jesus was the impending separation from the Father when He would take on the sins of all men.  Yet Jesus was fully obedient to the will of the Father for the good of all mankind.  And He was received in all His glory by the Father. 

According to this example of Christ, we must drink of the bitterest cup which God puts into our hands.  Even though our flesh will seek immediate relief from all trial in our lives, we must recognize and accept the will of Our Father as we go through our trials.  For, as God allowed the unspeakable trial of the Cross for Jesus because of the ultimate gain for all mankind, He allows each of us to go through our trials for our ultimate preparation to stand before Him sinless and to be received in glory by Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You that You allow the trials in our lives that prepare us to be received by You. We pray that You provide us with strength to overcome the weaknesses of our flesh as we face our trials.   May you give us the spiritual maturation to be able to take our cup of bitterness and rejoice in our submission to Your will and plan for our lives.