Spring 2024 has come upon us in Broken Arrow, OK

Thursday, March 28, 2013

DO!

“Blessed are they which DO hunger and thirst after righteousness:
                            for they shall be filled (or satisfied)”        

                                                                                                - Matthew 5:6 KJV
 
Jesus’ earthly existence was the epiphany of a life that hungers and thirsts after righteousness.  As I meditated on this verse yesterday and again this morning, the word “DO” continued to stand out as the driving force behind the meaning of the scripture.  It is another one of those action words.  Jesus was telling us here and then demonstrated with His life, that we have to actively work the process of seeking the things of God with all our hearts.  Nowhere is this more prevalent than in His final few days on this earth.
Following His “day off” on Wednesday of what we now call Holy Week that we discussed in yesterday’s post, Jesus set His attention to the completion of that which He was called to accomplish while living as a man on this earth.  Thursday started off with a rush of activity as He gave His disciples instructions as to the location and preparation of the Passover meal.  Then that evening He came with the twelve apostles and sat down at the table in order to present Himself to mankind as the Passover Lamb of God.  “His blood would open the door to freedom.  His followers would exchange slavery to sin and death for eternal life in God’s kingdom” *
Immediately following the meal, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray along with Peter, James and John.  After His final time alone with the Father, He was arrested and brought before the Jewish Council which was seeking to put Him to death.  While in prayer at the garden, Jesus gave us a powerful look at His human side.  Knowing what was ahead, the anguish of His humanity came forth as He cried out to His Father: “Abba!” Father!  You can do anything.  Take this cup of suffering away from me.”  But then His obedience to the desire of His Father overtook any momentary weakness and He firmly stated: BUT let your will be done rather than mine.” (Mark 14:36 God’s Word ©)  At that moment in time Jesus “set” Himself to “DO!”
I think that this is a very important and practical lesson for us to learn.  I believe that it is okay to experience times of weakness and maybe even a little bit of doubt – BUT – it is not okay to stay there!  In my life’s experiences as a Christian and a Pastor, I have seen both sides of the extremes.  I have counseled those who lived in doubt, only believing what they saw with their natural eyes.  And on the other end, I have seen those who attempted to only speak what they were hoping to receive from the Lord in what seemed to be a works based activity,driven by an undercurrent of the fear that if they didn’t make the “right” confession they would be punished with failure.
Jesus demonstrated to us that there are times in this life where trials and tribulations can momentarily get the better of us, but the key here is the word “momentarily!”  Once again, Jesus didn’t stay there!  He had enough of the Word hidden in His heart that His weak moment was quickly over-taken by the truth of God’s Word and He was able to receive the strength and courage to complete the task He was to “DO.”
I believe that Jesus wants us to know that His love is more powerful and sustaining than any moment of weakness that we may experience in our daily lives.  Nor does He want us to feel unworthy or condemned due to a temporary experience of doubt or emotional release.  At times like this remember Jesus’ example and move right passed the weak point into the loving, strong and compassionate arms of your Heavenly Father.  When you don’t feel it, see it or maybe even doubt it a little – put your trust in His Word for it will never fail you!  Be like Jesus and go beyond the weakness, put your trust in God and then go out and “DO!”  Have a great day.  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting to ‘DO’ today?”
 

* http://christianity.about.com/od/biblestory summaries/p/thelast supper.htm

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