It Was All Voluntary, Speaking of the Cross

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I try to have two quiet times per day, meditating on the Bible and spending time one on one with God. As we head into Easter, I am sharing my thoughts from a recent quiet time.

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

Matthew 27:50

I find it interesting that Jesus “yielded up His spirit.” He didn’t simply die. His life was not taken from Him. He yielded. John 10:18 indicates that Jesus had the power to continue living. He likely could have endured the cross and survived, doing exactly what those who taunted Him asked. Instead He yielded. This shows both His power and His resolve. This also shows His love. I pray for the capacity to love like this.

Jesus is so powerful that the cross could not kill Him without Him yielding His own life.

I read this now and think about what kind of person He is. I also think about what kind of person I am. In Christ I’ve been empowered. What am I doing with that power? Jesus was determined to carry out His mission. Am I?

God's Second Goal: Testing Our Hearts

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I think it is safe to say that God's number one goal is the salvation of mankind. Achieving this goal is so important that God sent His only begotten Son (John 3:16) who died on the cross in order to achieve His plan. Every true follower of God represents Christ's success in fulfilling the will of the Lord. But once we are "saved," what is God's goal in our lives? What does He want to achieve when it comes to His children? I believe that once we are saved, God pursues the goal of testing our hearts in order to prepare us for heaven and that we might fully enjoy an intimate relationship with Him.

"The refining pot is for silver

and the furnace for gold,

But the LORD tests the hearts."

Proverbs 17:3 (NKJV)

For many of us the idea of being tested brings memories of school and perhaps even of filling in circles using number two pencils. But I don't think this is the type of test spoken of in this verse. Even if it is the same kind of test, I suspect It's not graded in the same way as an English or math test. Our normal definition of "testing" does not fit the context of the rest of the verse. From this context we catch a glimpse of God's goal during the day to day ups and downs of life as we compare our trials with what happens in the refining pot and in the furnace.

The refining pot serves one basic purpose: to purify a metal. It is used to melt the metal so that impurities can be removed. A gold furnace is also used to purify metal. It follows that the context of this verse is purification and the testing mentioned is the refining of the heart. It also follows that like the refining pot, testing involves an intense and sometimes unpleasant environment. But the goal is not to make you suffer or to harm you in any way. The goal is to purify the heart and to make us more like our Lord.

If you're alive there is a good chance you'll experience trials and hardships from time to time. In fact, with the world in the midst of a pandemic you may be experiencing some level of angst as you read this. While I don't believe God brings us trials, I do believe He allows them and works them for our good (Romans 8:28). He also uses them to test (to purify) our hearts, preparing us so that we are prepared for life ahead. Testing may be unpleasant. Just keep in mind that God is accomplishing His goal in you. He is changing your heart in order to align your’s with His. He is in the process of preparing you for a better future. Keep this in mind as you endure whatever falls onto your path.

God Wants to Hear From You: Pray Without Ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

I've heard this verse interpreted in a number of different ways. I've even heard debates over whether or not it is even possible. My own thoughts about this verse have changed over the years as I find it a hard concept to comprehend. How could God expect us to pray without ceasing with so many other things we need to do? And yet the verse is there in the Bible. It seems to me that if God wants us to pray without ceasing it means that He wants to hear from us without at all times, and that’s good.

Imagine that! You're so important to God that He wants to hear from you without ceasing, an endless conversation with your Creator. This isn't an invitation to stop in once a day (or once a week) for a chat nor is it a call to only lift up our cares. It's a reminder that our omnipresent God is always nearby and always available to listen to our concerns. He really wants to hear from you. So He asks that you pray without ceasing.

How will you respond? The “Alpha and Omega” is waiting right now with a listening ear. He'd like to hear from you. Will He?