Thus Far the Lord Has Helped Us

12/26/23 – 01/01/24

Faithful in the Cross

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/30/23

If we ever doubt the faithfulness of God, we should look to the cross. There, Christ paid it all so that we could find all we need in Him.

“Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel’s behalf, and the LORD answered him” (1 Samuel 7:9). When the prophet Samuel took his knife and shed the blood of a lamb on the altar of sacrifice, God gave the Israelites victory over the Philistines (vv. 10-11). This event foreshadowed our ultimate victory through Jesus Christ.

The pure, spotless Lamb of God hung on a cross and shed His blood for all who would believe. When He cried, “It is finished!” and yielded His life as a sacrifice for sin, He secured our victory over Satan, sin, and death. He ransomed us from the righteous wrath we deserve and paved the way for our resurrection.

Every time we look at the cross, we should remember: God is for me; He sent His Son to die for me; I am loved. The cross is our ultimate Ebenezer.

When Israel turned back to God, He was faithful and merciful. He sent their enemies packing. In the same way, when we rest in the power of the cross, we will experience His saving grace and faithfulness that set Satan trembling. Therefore, think on the greatness of the cross! Let it be your ultimate Ebenezer, giving you hope that does not disappoint and joy forevermore.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the cross—that You did not spare even Your own Son to save me. Your love and faithfulness are astounding. You alone are worthy of all praise and adoration. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).