Twenty-Fifth Day of Lent
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven,
he resolutely set out forJerusalem .
Luke 9:51
he resolutely set out for
Luke 9:51
I wonder if we are well-acquainted with
this word, “resolutely?” Do we have any concept of what it means to move toward
something that we know is going to be painful, but that we also know is right?
Are we willing to proceed, no matter the cost? That is to resolutely set out.
The Message paraphrases this, “he
gathered up his courage and steeled himself.” I guess that I don’t often think
of Jesus as having to “gather up his courage.” For too many years, I explained
away things that I couldn’t deal with by allowing myself to see Jesus only as
God. That way I could reason that he could stand anything because, after all,
God has no limitations.
As I have gotten older, however, and
have studied more closely what the Bible says, I realize that faith can never
really grow until we know deep down inside that he really did suffer every
temptation that we will suffer, but never yielded to a single one of them! He gathered up his courage and steeled
himself, moving toward a terrible death so that he could reconcile us to
God. He came to be with us – Emmanuel. We have to face life’s difficulties, but
we never face them alone. He modeled this for us when he resolutely set his
face toward Jerusalem , obediently moving toward the cross!
Prayer:
Father,
help us to be resolute in the things that you have told us are important to
you. Help us to move toward whatever is in our future with confidence that you
have a plan for our lives, a plan for good and not for evil that we may
prosper. Help us to trust you with that plan and not to waiver. Amen.
And He Set His Face toward Jerusalem . . . .
A Lenten
Devotional Guide
prepared forHomosassa United Methodist Church , Spring 2007,
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
prepared for
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
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