Ready to now lift the Saviour up on the cross, the Roman soldiers as if to pity Jesus, offered Him wine mixed with gall. This was a bitter herbal mixture which was meant to ease the pain of death. But Jesus would not take any pain killers lest He should be accused by Satan (the name which means accuser of the brethren) of failing His mission for the love of ease.
How often have we for the love of ease taken offers to ease ourselves from the pain of dying to self? How often we throw pity parties to human beings and consider their wine and gall so that we may escape that purging from the Father that can only ensure we bear much fruit.
In fear of going through the Father’s purging process, we accept the seemingly “act(s) of mercy” that in turn then prevent from God working through us. For is it not through the fiery trials and pains of life that God is purging us of the dross of sin and self in our lives? Shall you and me escape the love that God gives in pruning us so that we may bear more fruit that can remain in the Holy Spirit?
Oh, the love of ease, the love of ease… Jesus would not have it. He would drink His full cup of suffering and would not suffer to fail humanity for the love of a painless death. That offer was a no for Him. By the same example we are to die to self. Self will only die through the fiery trials; these painful experiences we must endure.
No one’s mercy can come to save us from this experience should we have victory over self. We have just but one Helper, the Holy Spirit, He stands with us to comfort us and strengthen us throughout these trying times. Today is November 3, 2024… have you invited Him to come in to stay? You and I do not need the wine and the gall… what we need is the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. Self is dying, praise God!
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