Yes, I believe supper time is a welcomed activity in most cultures; and it seemed to be so in Jesus’. He often enjoyed supper with His disciples. In fact, He was the server - He handed the food to His disciples. Such was the case when He sat with them for what turned out to be the last Passover Supper. His disciples didn’t know it; they were too self-centered to realize that deep meaning of His words. So much was happening with them all; but history only records what was happening in Judas’ thoughts as it served as the base for all that later transpired.

The Bible is filled with stories of persons who dared to take the first step in believing. Hebrews Chapter 11 recorded some great acts of ordinary persons who choose to believe and the rest is history. People like Rahab perished not because she believed-a belief that led her to be named in the lineage of Jesus. We can through Christ. Nothing of lasting value comes easy. It takes sacrifice, strong determination and diligent pursuit to make it happen.

Not only did they choose death, but their decision robbed them of their power of choice. But God stepped in and provided a way out that gave them an option to choose again – to choose life. Through the ages, every human is making a decision, moment by moment, to accept God’s contingency or to forever remain with the choice of eternal death.

He had been so steeped in sin; well, that’s what he thought of himself and his friends concur. He could never change. The worldly lifestyle was his thrill and giving it up was unimaginable. The girls, the drinks, parties and more; that was his life. After all, he was young and it was his life to live. But God had other plans! God choose a new direction for his life-a direction that led to a total change of both the inner and outer man.

The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that the Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop. If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not spend time in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He refines.

The School of Life brings continuous testing, one after another – well that’s how it seems to me. We are bombarded with one challenge after another with very little time, if any, to ‘party’ in between. Amazingly, the experiences are quite similar for those on the ‘narrow path’. God permits trials. You are not alone. Praise God in your trials.

In all these assurances, I am comforted and strengthened to keep on praying. Just as Moses cried to God when faced with the red sea and Pharaoh’s army behind, I too must cry to God for deliverance from my red sea experiences. You can too. Do not give up on life, and don’t you give up on God. Keep on praying. Keep on believing and hoping that God will make a way when there seems to be no way. His answer may seem slow in coming, but it’s coming nonetheless. Jesus promised that Our Father will answer His elect speedily.

There are times in life when our problems seemed to crushed us; when all we can do is cry, and cry, and cry some more. Like Mary Magdalene, even though we have often sat at Jesus’ feet, yet in the time of testing we sometimes forget the lessons learnt. We allowed our troubles to cloud out the view of our Master, of our hope and dreams. In the face of our storms, we weep thinking it’s all over, that there’s no way out. Just as how Jesus called out to Mary, so He’s calling out your name. He’s calling your name saying, “Weep no more, I am not dead!”

Queen Esther could’ve kept quite and save herself (maybe); but that would do no good. She was placed in a position of trust, influence and power. She had to do something, even if it cost her life! Praise be to God, who giveth us the victory. Victory was hers. She took the risk and victory was hers and her people!

The Bible is filled with experiences of persons that could easily be grouped into either garlic perfume or a sweet-smelling perfume. Can you think of some examples? All life experiences do leave a lesson about Christ, good or bad. What lesson was taught from Job’s experience? What about Judas? Can you recall a time in your life when your victory in your testing turns out to be a testimony for Christ?