Situations

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. 
Hebrews 5:7 NLT

When bad things happen in life, people often demand to know why and they tend to accuse God. Why would God allow this to happen? Why didn't God stop this? Why wasn't He there? Romans 8:35b reads, Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? Verse 38 emphatically declares No! Nothing can separate us from God's love. And yet, that's what we tend to believe. Or oftentimes, we think if we'd only known what was going to happen, that somehow we could have been prepared and it would be easier, or we could have found a different way around it. 

I find it interesting to note that in today's choice of Scripture, it says God heard Jesus's prayers when He was in the garden, praying to be rescued from death. Jesus KNEW what was coming. I find it even more interesting to know that God did NOT rescue Jesus from the situation. There was nothing lessened or made easier. Even though He prayed earnestly and fervently, Jesus was still scourged and beaten unrecognizable, and then crucified.

He would have liked to have had a way around it, but Jesus chose to be obedient (Nevertheless, Thy will be done), based solely on what the Father had told Him. Hebrews 5:8 reads, Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In Matthew 26:53-54, Jesus confirms His choice to obey, Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now? As the Son of God, Jesus could do whatever He wanted. As a man, He had to walk in obedience or we would have no hope for salvation. 

Verse 9 of today's passage reads, In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. Our source of eternal salvation, not situational salvation. Not based on the situations in our lives, but based on the foundational Truth of God's Word. Can we stand in obedience to God even in our situations?

Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for the Truth of Your Word. Help us to be as David, Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee... We choose to walk in obedience to You, regardless of the situations in our lives. Like the old song says, Father, "Lift me up above the shadows..." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for February 9th
Exodus 29:1-30:10
Matthew 26:14-46
Psalm 31:19-24
Proverbs 8:14-26