The Best of the Portals of Prayer

Read: John 8:31-39 / Psalm 105

“Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day.”
John 8:56

The Joy of Abraham

Many people gathered in the Temple area in Jerusalem to hear the preaching of Jesus. To those who believed in Him, Jesus promised freedom from guilt and fear from eternal death: “if you abide in My Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” [John 8:31-32]. Our Lord was very blunt in His condemnation of those who tried to discredit His identity and teaching. They dishonored God the Father when they spurned the Son. Instead, they should be like Abraham, who rejoiced in God’s plan of redemption through His Son. But when Jesus professed to exist before Abraham, they wanted to stone Him, accusing Him of blasphemy. During Lent, we recall how our Lord was rejected and abused. May we eagerly listen to His teaching and boldly proclaim His as our redeemer, even if we, too, must suffer. The Word of Jesus is the truth that sets us free from the power of sin and eternal death. May we ever be faithful to Him as we worship Him with song and prayer during this sacred season.
We give thanks to You, Lord Jesus, and call on Your name. Grant us opportunities to make known among the nations all you have done. Amen.

March 17, 1991