Think About This : “God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worth it.” – Max Lucado
The Daily Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 1-2. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
The Long View
Posted on March 9, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call
So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matthew 27:41-43)
The chief priests, scribes and elders mocked Him. They said they would believe if He came down off that cross. They didn’t know what they were asking. They were asking Him to abandon His mission.
Perhaps it was true that if Jesus came down from the cross maybe they would have believed. But then what? Sin would not have been conquered. Salvation would not have been won. And we would ALL still be under the power of sin and the wrath of God.
Despite the FACT that He did and does save others, the FACT that He is the King of Israel, the FACT that He trusts God, the FACT that the Father does desire Him, the FACT that He is the Son of God, Jesus had nothing to prove to these men. He chose the long view by staying on the cross. Perhaps the few standing around Him never believed because He didn’t come down off the cross, but His decision of obedience and love brought salvation to the world.
“…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
The same principle works effectively in our own battle against sin. Rather than the short-term pleasure of sin, the long view of the blessing of obedience, the joy of fellowship with Christ and the Father’s glory, will embolden us to say no to temptation.
Please Lord, will you give me the long view to look beyond the immediate to see the glory beyond.
Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. 90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides.” Psalm 119:89-90
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