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READ: Mark 14:12-25
LISTEN: Mark 14

“Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Mark 14:25

Jesus eats a secret meal while religious leaders scheme about how to have him killed. Meanwhile, Judas looks for an opportunity to betray Jesus. There is even mounting pressure with the Roman authorities. Tension builds all around Jesus. But through it all, God remains in control. Jesus leads his disciples through the meal and reminds them of the fullness of his coming kingdom. Though people scheme to bring Jesus down, God brings about his great rescue plan for the saving of many lives.

God is at work today in much the same way. Life often feels chaotic and out of control. From a human perspective, it is. But no matter how chaotic or hectic life may be, God is always in control. God orchestrates the details of life according to his all-wise plan to bring about salvation through his Son. A promise we can take to the bank is that God works all things for our salvation and transforms us to look more and more like Jesus (see Romans 8:28-30). God is committed to our growth and salvation in Christ and often uses surprising means (including trials, hardships and even betrayal) to bring his plan to completion.

TODAY: Spend time in prayer, thanking God for always being in control. Ask for grace to trust God in the difficult seasons of life. Give God thanks for how he uses the chaos to draw you nearer to him. Also, use this time to consider Romans 8:28-30 and God’s commitment to work all things for our good in Christ Jesus.