Remember what He has done for us!

This morning as I was spending time with God something very interesting occurred to me.  Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like God is millions and millions of miles away?  Have you ever had a day where it was hard to share Him with others.  I know that I can definitely, say that I have.  In fact, I was having one of those moments this morning, but during Worship, Jesus helped me to see that sometimes we are not going to have those great feelings or even to know if things are working out.  This morning I was reading from Matthew 10 and I came across this passage:

” 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,  3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:   5  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.   6  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.“

The first thing that comes to my mind when I read this is what John said while in prison.  Art thou he that should come or do we look for another.  John the Baptist had been preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven for a long time, and now apparently forsaken by God he sends his disciples to go and find Jesus.  John was having one of those moments where he was unsure about his life.  He had followed Jesus all the way.  He had proclaimed the message of the Gospel, and now was having a difficult time.  He was in prison!
I find that Jesus reply in this situation is very interesting indeed.  He says:  “Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see.”  This shows me that I am a sinful human creature, and that it is a natural part of me to sometimes get discouraged.  Yet notice Jesus remedy is the same as at the beginning.  Go and shew John again….  A one time experience is not enough.  Jesus has done lots of things in our lives, and I think that this is God saying to me, re-live some of the experiences that I have done for you.   I am impressed that Jesus wants us to keep track of the things He does in our lives, and to keep track of the miracles.  So that when we are in the prison house of discouragement or pain, we can remember all that He has done for us in the past.  We have to be reminded of what He has done for us.  So if you are someone who has just stumbled onto this blog, may you be encouraged to go back to Jesus and see anew the wonderful things He has done for you.  Don’t be discouraged because you are “in prison” whatever that prison may be.  Realize that even though you may be, the Gospel moves forward.  Jesus is still on the throne, and that your pain and suffering is part of a greater plan.  Remember that He is with you in the suffering.  Remember the things He has done for you.  When someone asks you for encouragement, remember to tell them all of the things Jesus has done for you!  That is where the real encouragement comes in.
Finally at the end of my devotions, I came to the cross of Calvary!  Jesus Himself went to the cross for you and me.  He didn’t have to either, it was a choice to save humankind.  He promises in His Word that if You believe that He has died for you and accept Him as Your personal Savior to forgive your sins, He will do it! (Whether you feel it or not!)
1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Jesus has been in a blacker darkness than we have ever been in, and has shown us the example of holding onto God.  He clung to His Father’s Love the whole way, and on the cross was able to show love!  On the cross!!!