January 14 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

The theme of the month is spiritual war. Jesus won the battle not by might but by obedience. He is the source of salvation for all who obey him. When we have stood the test, we will share Christ's glory.

Bible Reading:

Matthew 26:47––56

Bible Text:

"Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matt. 26:53).

Devotional:

One of Jesus' friends had a sword hidden underneath his coat. When the soldiers touched his revered Master, this disciple hacked at the enemy, narrowly missing a skull and cutting off an ear. But Jesus restrained his friend and healed his enemy (Luke 22:51). No need for swords, he said. They will do no good.

Jesus' self-sacrifice is so loving and magnanimous precisely because he could have avoided it--even at the last minute. If he had wanted it, the dark stand of trees where this confrontation occurred could have been lit up by a heavenly host. Twelve legions of angels could have made a mockery of human swords and clubs and people's puny efforts to capture the Prince of Heaven.

Momentarily, at least, Jesus must have been tempted to show his real greatness to Judas the traitor and to the mob that came to him with sticks and stones. Wouldn't you and I have said: "I'll show you, Scum ... "?

The reason why Jesus refrained from calling in his army and the reason why he permitted the rabble to do him injustice was that he wanted to stick to the Script. "How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled?" (v. 54). "This has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled" (v. 56).

It was the will of God, the plan of redemption, the covenant of grace. Christ kept his vows and was faithful until death.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.