VICTORY OVER ENMITYSpeaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: We receive immense blessings just because the Crucified One bore the Cross and suffered for you and me. Today we are going to meditate on the Cross, which was carried by our Saviour Jesus Christ. We receive immense blessings just because the Crucified One bore the Cross and suffered for you and me. The Bible says in I Corinthians 15:57, " But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus Christ overcame the power of death and won the victory. The Bible says that our Lord Jesus Christ paved way for the prosperous living of every human being on this earth by battling with all the forces of darkness on the Cross.
What were the battles that took place in the Cross? The Scripture says in Ephesians 2:16, "that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity". The Lord won victory over enmity on the Cross. Enmity often shows its ugly head in our daily life and this is particularly common in any family.
The Bible says in Ephesians 5:28,29 "So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church." The husband and wife consider each other's body as their own. There is no one who dislikes his own body. On the contrary, we see great enmity existing between husbands and wives these days in this world. There is enmity in the family.
A couple of years ago, my father told a very humorous incident. In a house, there lived just two members, a man and his wife. The wife eagerly awaited the arrival of her husband from his office. She would prepare coffee and look every now and then at the clock as to when it would strike six. Unfortunately, from the moment the husband entered the house a quarrel would break open between them. The fight would rage on for many long hours. The woman expressing her anger used to say, "My father gave me into your hands by offering you a very huge sum as dowry. You took that money and purchased gold chain for your beloved sister and got employment for your dear brother. Will you prosper if you happen do be doing such acts like these?" Thus she continued to bring up one issue after another.
Her husband a very patient man slowly sipped the coffee for he being helpless could do nothing to put an end to his wife's unruly behaviour. Suddenly one day, the man had a heart attack while at his office and passed away. His friends brought his dead body home. On the way, one of his friend commented, "Now that he has left for his eternal home, he would live in peace at least there. Away from the intervention of his nagging wife." When his wife saw the dead body of her husband she lamented. Being stricken with great grief and unable to bear the sorrow, she too fell upon his dead body and passed away. Those who stood there remarked, "At least after death he would have hoped to live a peaceful life there. But this woman has followed him up there to continue her quarrel." No peace of mind for that man either on earth or in the other place. Such is the force of enmity.
In order to bring divine peace between the husband and the wife our loving Lord suffered on the Cross.
Prayer
Loving Lord,
I praise and thank You for suffering on the cross to conqueror enmity. Even today, may Your divine peace prevail within me and in my family. Help me to meditate upon Your sufferings on the Cross and grant me blessings which You have purchased for me through Your sufferings.
I will praise and glorify Your name now and forever more.
Amen. |