In order we method this Easter, let’s ponder.
Ponder Jesus’ Life, Loss of life, and Resurrection
In line with Webster’s 1828 dictionary, ponder means
To weigh within the thoughts; to contemplate and examine the circumstances or penalties of an occasion, or the significance of the explanations for or towards a choice.
Allow us to weigh within the thoughts—to contemplate the circumstances and penalties of Christ’s life, loss of life, and resurrection. And to consider the explanations we’ve determined to comply with Him.
So this Easter, I need to encourage you to meditate on Hebrews 12:1-3. It says,
Subsequently, since we’re surrounded by so nice a cloud of witnesses, allow us to additionally lay apart each weight, and sin which clings so carefully, and allow us to run with endurance the race that’s set earlier than us, trying to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our religion, who for the enjoyment that was set earlier than him endured the cross, despising the disgrace, and is seated on the proper hand of the throne of God. Contemplate him who endured from sinners such hostility towards himself, so that you could be not develop weary or fainthearted.
Seeking to Jesus
He’s the founder and perfecter of our religion.
The Founder—If it wasn’t for Jesus, the Christian religion doesn’t exist. I do know that sounds apparent, however can we cease to consider it? He says, “I’m the best way, and the reality, and the life. Nobody involves the Father besides by way of me.” (John 14:6b) We reside in a world the place many will attempt to persuade us and our youngsters that whereas Jesus could also be a approach, He’s not the approach. We now have to contemplate what He says about Himselfas a result of these round us will always attempt to persuade us in another way.
The Perfecter— “one who has in his personal particular person raised religion to its perfection and so set earlier than us the very best instance of religion.” —blueletterbible.org Sure, He’s the very best instance of religion. He trusted His Father utterly. Can we select to comply with His instance?
He endured the cross for the enjoyment set earlier than Him.
He Endured—He didn’t attempt to flee, however remained within the will of His Father. As God He completely may have merely disappeared or fought and received an earthly battle, however He selected to endure the unimaginable bodily ache of the cross.
And much more wonderful, the ache of being separated from His Father for a time.
However Jesus endured for the enjoyment set earlier than Him. That pleasure of being seated once more on the proper hand of the throne of God, of finishing His mission. There was a goal in what he was enduring. And amazingly sufficient, His struggling was to save lots of us.
He despised the disgrace.
The Disgrace—the shame, the dishonor. He counted that as nothing though He was God, though He deserved honor above all.
And being present in human type, he humbled himself by changing into obedient to the purpose of loss of life, even loss of life on a cross. Philippians 2:8
However why? Why would He, the proper Son of God do that for us? As a result of He loves you.
Jesus Loves You Deeply
Simply take into consideration the love He displayed for you, for me, for the entire world.
God reveals his love for us in that whereas we had been nonetheless sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
He endured the cross, despised the disgrace, and endured sinners hostility towards Himself. Why would He do that? Why would He do that whereas we had been nonetheless sinners?
Due to His nice love for us. It’s that straightforward, however oh, so profound.
My prayer for you is similar as Paul’s for the Ephesians,
For that reason I bow my knees earlier than the Father, from whom each household in heaven and on earth is known as, that in keeping with the riches of his glory he might grant you to be strengthened with energy by way of his Spirit in your internal being, in order that Christ might dwell in your hearts by way of religion—that you simply, being rooted and grounded in love, might have power to grasp with all of the saints what’s the breadth and size and peak and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses data,that you could be be crammed with all of the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV)
A Singular Function
Jesus knew his mission and He fulfilled it. He had a singular goal.
In Isaiah 50:7 we see this within the prophecy,
However the Lord God helps me;
subsequently I’ve not been disgraced;
subsequentlyI’ve set my face like a flint,
and I do know that I shall not be put to disgrace.
After which we see the achievement of that prophecy in Luke 9:51.
When the times drew close to for him to be taken up, he set his faceto go to Jerusalem.
Your Function
Have you learnt what your goal is? What God has referred to as you to? There are some things you possibly can know for positive, and one among them is that He has referred to as you to be the mom of your youngsters. He has referred to as you to teach them—their hearts, minds, and souls. Nobody else can do this job, so it is part of your calling.
However might I counsel, Candy Mama, that your mainmission isn’t to boost and homeschool your youngsters. Sure, God referred to as you to do this, however your goal is a lot larger. God created you in His picture—designed you to replicate his character to a these round you that want Him.
You might be created for His glory.
Why can we ponder this stuff?
Hebrews 12:3 continues, “Contemplate him who endured from sinners such hostility towards himself, so that you could be not develop weary or fainthearted.”
After we contemplate one thing, we “repair the thoughts on, with a view to a cautious examination; to assume on with care; to ponder; to check; to meditate on.” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)
Meditate on Jesus this Easter. Study who He’s. And take into consideration what He has executed.
Ponder.
And let it encourage you by yourself journey to not develop weary or fainthearted. Candy Mama, know that He loves you. Let the message of Easter fill you with HOPE. The street you’ve got chosen isn’t at all times simple, however it’s price it.
What you might be doing has an everlasting worth.