How hard it must have been...
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Object:
How hard it must have been for our Lord to know the horrible agony that awaited him. In the garden he even prayed that "this cup might pass from me." The reason I like his prayer is it shows that he was human. I'm not at all sure I would have accepted what he went through -- even though I'm sure God's plan is to take me home to be with him when the suffering in this life is over.
Most of those who followed Jesus around -- including his disciples (and Judas) -- were looking to a time when Jesus would drive out the Romans and free Israel. Jesus' death was not on their agenda -- or Peter's obviously.
Jesus knew of their weaknesses, but he still called Peter "Satan"! In other words we know that it was a great temptation to give up and do what everyone else expected him to do. Peter was not a help! Jesus could have settled it all years before when Satan tempted him to jump off the temple roof. Then everyone would have believed him and it would have saved him a lot of time (and suffering!) -- if that were God's plan! But his ways are not our ways. I hope we all remember that as we look ahead and wonder what God's plan might be for us. We knew several in Nepal who suspected that their faithfulness might result in torture and death. Brave believers, they are, who give us all an example.
Are we willing to take up our cross and follow him? He is not necessarily saying that we are going to die on a cross, but that God has given us each a burden to bear. You may already know what your burden will be, and a church can provide you with members who will offer support. That is one thing that you can tell family and friends who ask why you bother to go to church. Another reason is that you can support others who need it. It is a two-way street even if they have to "suffer" through an hour of worship every Sunday.
One reason we struggle on is so we can inherit what God has for us. It is not easy to deny ourselves (or our family) what we may want with all our heart. But even if we could gain the whole world we might lose our soul, the most precious thing we have and the only thing that will survive through all eternity.
Our salvation has been paid for and we don't have to earn it, but there are still other rewards for obeying our Lord. Maybe the most important is to know that we are wrapped in his love! We love all our own children but aren't we drawn closer to the ones who serve and obey us out of love? The love of God passes all understanding, even if the price of that love might be our life.
Most of those who followed Jesus around -- including his disciples (and Judas) -- were looking to a time when Jesus would drive out the Romans and free Israel. Jesus' death was not on their agenda -- or Peter's obviously.
Jesus knew of their weaknesses, but he still called Peter "Satan"! In other words we know that it was a great temptation to give up and do what everyone else expected him to do. Peter was not a help! Jesus could have settled it all years before when Satan tempted him to jump off the temple roof. Then everyone would have believed him and it would have saved him a lot of time (and suffering!) -- if that were God's plan! But his ways are not our ways. I hope we all remember that as we look ahead and wonder what God's plan might be for us. We knew several in Nepal who suspected that their faithfulness might result in torture and death. Brave believers, they are, who give us all an example.
Are we willing to take up our cross and follow him? He is not necessarily saying that we are going to die on a cross, but that God has given us each a burden to bear. You may already know what your burden will be, and a church can provide you with members who will offer support. That is one thing that you can tell family and friends who ask why you bother to go to church. Another reason is that you can support others who need it. It is a two-way street even if they have to "suffer" through an hour of worship every Sunday.
One reason we struggle on is so we can inherit what God has for us. It is not easy to deny ourselves (or our family) what we may want with all our heart. But even if we could gain the whole world we might lose our soul, the most precious thing we have and the only thing that will survive through all eternity.
Our salvation has been paid for and we don't have to earn it, but there are still other rewards for obeying our Lord. Maybe the most important is to know that we are wrapped in his love! We love all our own children but aren't we drawn closer to the ones who serve and obey us out of love? The love of God passes all understanding, even if the price of that love might be our life.
