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Someone shared a video recently, of couple having their wedding dance beautifully. At a point during the dance, the excited groom decided to step things up a bit; so he reached out to sweep his bride off her feet! However, just as he got his bride off the floor, the balance tipped and they both found themselves on the floor, to the excited roar of the people around! Then the best part: The bride rolled over on top of the groom, and they started kissing right there on the floor! The crowd grew wild with excitement and applause. What appeared to have been an embarrassing disaster ended up in jubilation!

The greatest love story ever told also appeared to be a disaster, but ended very well.

READ Luke 22:39-46

Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying,

‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’

 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.  Then He said to them,

‘Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.’

 (Luke 22:39-46 NKJV)

The chief priests and the scribes had been looking for ways to kill Jesus without eliciting outrage from the people; and Satan decided to help them! This Christ was becoming too much, talking too much, and creating too much trouble for Satan! So Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who went away and conferred with the chief priests and captains on how to betray Jesus to them. The chief priests and the scribes were glad, and agreed to give Judas Iscariot money; and he gave them his promise; and started looking for opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of the people. (Luke 22:1-6)

In the scripture text we just read, Jesus knew the die was cast; that Judas Iscariot was going to betray Him and He was going to be killed! It was not a pleasant thing to anticipate, and He was worried! He went to the Mount of Olives, as he usually did, with His disciples; then withdrew from them and prayed,

‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’ (vv. 42)

Although an angel came to strengthen Him, Bible records that“being in agony, He prayed more earnestly” (vv. 44).  The disciples were equally sorrowful for “He found them sleeping from sorrow”(vv. 45). I can only imagine something like a funeral service!

But this funeral service, orchestrated by Satan and meant for evil, turned out good! This is what Paul would later write to the Romans,

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

This is not the first time God turned evil to good. Joseph’s near murder by his brothers, and eventual sale into servitude in Egypt, also turned out good, and he later said,  

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. (Genesis 50:20) 

In God’s hands intended evil becomes eventual good.

What evil are you suffering currently? Trust God to turn it around.

The greatest love story ever told was like that!

MEMORY VERSE

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

QUESTIONS

1. What evil are you suffering right now?

2. Can you trust God to turn it around?

PRAYER TIP

Loving Father, please help us to trust You to turn all evil in our lives around.

Written by:
BENNY MALM

For:
TESTIMONY DEVOTIONAL

URGENT CALL

By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!

But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.

The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved. 

Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.

It is a very personal decision. No one can make for you.

If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!

Do you want to make that decision today?

Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for guidance if you want to make that decision.

We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.

God richly bless you

SPECIAL GRATITUDE

Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website. 

We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.

We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.

God richly bless you.

The Testimony Devotional website addresses are:

https://testimonydevotional.org/

https://testimonydevotional.com/

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