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CASNFCI SCRIPTURE & PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Not Abandoned :
He has not despised … the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. — Psalm 22:24
When Christ cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), he was quoting Psalm 22:1. This psalm, though it begins with an exclamation of pain, turns into an expression of faith and thanksgiving in the end. The first half of the psalm foreshadows much of what Jesus experienced on the cross: mocking, insults, thirst, the piercing of his hands and feet, even the casting of lots for his clothing. But further into the psalm, as our verse for today says, God “has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.” While it seemed, Christ had been forever abandoned, God wasn’t through with him. Jesus’ body was placed in a grave but was raised from the dead, the Lord of life. Crowned with the name that is above every name (see Phil. 2:9-11).
Hebrews 5:7 says that while Jesus lived on earth, “he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” Paul said that "on him [God] we have set our hope that he will deliver us again" (2 Corinthians 1:10). Then Paul called on the Corinthian believers to help them through prayer so that many would give thanks "for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many" (2 Corinthians 1:11).
Our afflictions may be hard to endure sometimes, but God has promised He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Emmanuel. Halleluiah!
PRAYER
Lord, you heard Jesus even in those darkest moments, and we can trust that you will never abandon us, for his sake. Thank you. Amen.
Rev. Isaac G. Y Bangalu Founder & CE
Couples & Singles Network for Christ Initiative
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