A Daily Devotional with Pastor Doug Crouse March 11, 2018 Abandoned, For Me Scripture Reading – Mark 15:33 - 34 (NLT) “At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. Then at three o'clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" 

As it is most often when one has to deal with hardened criminals and those who seem bent to do wrong in spite of the consequences, one can become hardened in the process if one is not careful. I am certain this was the case of the soldiers who gambled for the robe of this King of the Jews. But although they had done this crucifixion scene countless times, we know that at least for one of them, this was one day that changed his life forever.

For that one soldier had never seen such a scene ever before in the middle of the day. Suddenly, and for three hours a darkness came over the land that he never had experienced. And I believe he watched Jesus over these three hours as the Spirit of God dealt with his heart. Perhaps even hearing the criminals' discussion as one rejected and one accepted the forgiveness of Jesus and the accompanying promise of paradise. Most certainly hearing this loud cry that in and of itself is such a mystery, how can God ever abandon God?

And yet, Jesus Christ the perfect, sinless Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world was abandoned for you and I and anyone who will hear His voice. And when one realizes that He was, 'Abandoned for Me', then the same response of faith will rise from that heart as did from the heart of the one soldier that day. Surely this man was the Son of God!

Prayer Heavenly Father, help me I pray not to become hard in my heart by the things that I see and even experience in this world. Holy Spirit make me sensitive to the things that touch the heart of Jesus I pray in His precious name. 

Memory Verse:  Ephesians 4:2 NLT “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”