Taking The Cup God Gives Me

My Cup

Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave's name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"Matthew 18:9, 10(NASB)

Let’s set the scene-

Where:  The Garden of Gethsemane Who:     Jesus, the disciples, the Temple soldiers What: -the soldiers have come to take Jesus away -Peter tries to fight them off -Jesus intervenes with the most amazing words

I have read this scripture numerous times over the years. It is a familiar scene in my mind. But this time it struck me differently. Personally, that is why I am so in love with the Word. It never ceases to teach, instruct and convict, no matter how many times I have read a passage before.

Jesus’ words, “the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” shook me. I asked myself, “What cup has God given me? What difficult thing has God allowed in my life or called me to walk through?”

This does not refer to my own poor choices or difficulties of my own making. To suffer for doing wrong is not a calling…it is a consequence.

But what cup has the Father given me? I am not trying to trivialize what Jesus went through, or elevate what I am going through. But the picture remains.

What difficulty, trial, challenge, malady, or disappointment has God given me through which He wants to proclaim His message, build His Kingdom, or shine His light?

And what is my response? Am I like Peter, warring against the plan? Am I like the disciples, cowering in the shadows, desiring to run away? Or could I, in the smallest degree, be like Christ, willing to take whatever cup the Father gives me?

This question totally alters my perspective. Through eternal spectacles, every difficult relationship, physical challenge, financial shortfall, can be transformed from a difficulty to a divinely given “cup”,

There is purpose to the pain. There is divine in the difficult. There are eternal consequences to the conflicts.

Whatever Lord. Whatever cup You give me, I will drink.

So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"       Matthew 18:10(NASB)