Good Shepherd – John 10:27-28

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
John 10:27-28

How will Jesus give those who are His sheep eternal life? By laying down His own life.

“I am the good shepherd…I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15
“No one takes it from me…I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.” John 10:18

This is the love and commitment Jesus has for His sheep. 

His sheep. He takes ownership, authority, responsibility for those who are His. To call them, lead them, and ensure they are never lost or taken. 

The full assurance of their eternal place as His, as safe and secured, is that Jesus – God in flesh, the Son – knowingly, willingly, determinedly walked the road to Jerusalem, knowing what was waiting for Him there. Betrayal, arrest, beating, condemnation, and agonizing death. Jesus went in full awareness and unyielding determination. “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).

His soul was troubled and agonized to the point of death (Mark 14:34), He pleaded for another way (Mark 14:36), but despite it all Jesus chose the cross. Because there was no other way. He chose to lay His life down to save and secure forever His sheep: every person who hears and trusts in His name for salvation. 

And He fulfilled His declaration of authority, taking His life up again in victory, rising from the dead to hold forever those who are His, losing none of them, faithful to raise us up with Him on the last day. 

Know that whatever is happening for you in this season, Jesus holds you fast. He is the good shepherd who calls, leads, knows, watches over, protects, and keeps forever His own. 

“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 3:5

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out…And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 6:37-40

The God to Whom I Belong – Acts 27:23-25

“For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.”
Acts 27:23-25

As I was reading through this passage, one phrase began stirring my heart to ponder: “The God to whom I belong and whom I worship.”

There is assurance, steadiness in that phrase, “the God to whom I belong.”

Steadiness because of who He is.

If He were harsh, unfaithful, unfeeling, or cruel, to belong to such would be a hopeless, binding state.

But to belong to the Living God of light, goodness, justice, righteousness, and love, the God of seeing, who knows and looks after His own – to belong to Him is freedom and confidence, peace and joy.

He keeps me and looks after me. Not because I earn it, but because He made me His through the work Jesus accomplished on the cross – taking all my sin and frailty and shame and failure, and paying the cost, to redeem my soul to the praise of His glorious grace, to show me His great loving-kindness for all ages to come.

There is hardship in this life. There is grief and great pain and confusion.

But I have solid ground that I stand on in it all, because I know the God to whom I belong.

He is trustworthy. He is all-knowing, He rules over all, He is compassionate and kind, and He never leaves. And His eyes never leave me.

The God to whom I belong is present. As I send out my roots by the stream of His living water to be filled and nourished and restored, it is never failing.

Belonging to Him means freedom from fear. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9)

His commands might push against our preferences or our understanding, and He might call us to follow Him into God-sized “impossible” roles and purposes, but He has commanded it, and I see two elements with that:

(1) He is the sovereign ruler and has all authority. I belong to Him, He has commanded, so my role is to obey. He has the authority and right to tell me what to do, and it is right for me to obey Him.

(2) He will take ownership over every command and every calling He sends out. Because He has declared it, He will fulfill His purposes and will give me all that is needed to obey and follow Him. He has commanded, and He will see it through. So I can be strong and courageous, I can cast aside fear and discouragement because He has commanded and He is with me. And I must turn myself toward this and act on it, because He has commanded it, and I belong to Him.

And what an amazing God He is, that when I do this – when I follow and obey, when I trust Him, abide in Him, and walk in His joy, peace, and freedom – He allows and enables me to be part of the greater works He is doing. I am able to see His astounding glory around me, and be filled with all the fullness of God within me, rooted and grounded forever in His love.

Waiting for the Other Shoe – Psalm 146:5-10

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the sojourners;
He upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked He brings to ruin.
The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to generations.
Praise the LORD!”
Psalm 146:5-10

There’s a common phrase in our culture of “waiting for the other shoe to drop.” It’s a perspective we can easily fall into – this felt dread of inevitability that something bad will happen.

The idea of something going wrong isn’t outside of our reality, living in a fallen world with sickness and natural disasters and things that don’t always go the way we prefer, and with (and as) people whose choices have consequences on themselves and those around them.

But I was dwelling this morning on how remarkably, wholly, amazingly good God is.

Think with me for a moment on the characteristics He outlines for us in His Word: He is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. He is good and does good, and He who gave us His own Son to save us, will He not also graciously give us all things? A good Father who readily gives His Spirit – in abiding, loving relationship and instruction – to all who ask Him. A good Shepherd who knows each one who is His, calls us out by name, and will never lose any of those the Father has given to Him. The God who sees us. The God who provides perfectly. He is merciful and gracious. He is just, righteous, and faithful. He is glorious beyond our imagination.

He is compassionate and understanding, an advocate and a powerful help to us. He knows everything about us, He formed us with His hands in great care and detail, and knows the hairs of our head. He holds all wisdom and knowledge. He knew our sin and how it would destroy us, and Jesus the Son came to earth to live as a man and to die as a provided sacrifice, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world – the Lamb who takes your sin away from you, if you but receive Him – and the Savior who rose victoriously from the grave three days later.

He has all authority and all power. He is almighty, the Creator of everything in the universe, upholding all things by the mere word of His power. Nothing can stop Him or His purposes. He is unchanging. He holds everything in His hands. He is light, and He is for you, and His steadfast love endures forever.

Is it not amazing that this is who God is?

The God who made everything – He might have been a harsh ruler. Or one who changes. With some level of darkness or corruption. One who has favorites and overlooks others.

But no. The living God who made everything and rules everything is love and steady truth, a foundation of light and abundant life we can stand on and hope in. This God is your keeper, your protector, who surrounds you with His favor as with a shield. He knows and sees and loves you, and He is sovereign with grace over your life.

So while there will be hardships and pain and trial and confusion in this mortal life in this broken world, “He knows the way that I take… I shall come out as gold” (Job 23:10). Goodness and light and strength and love and joy – that is what is in store for us. “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart” (Psalm 27:11) This is what God sows into your path and will be reaped: light and joy.

Let us choose to fix our eyes on the joy before us, because our God is good and lightens even our darkness.

I heard someone say recently that they want to stop thinking about all the bad things that have happened and instead to focus on the good that will happen. I love that mindset shift. The forward perspective and expectation. Connecting beautifully with Psalm 27:13-14, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

Yes, wait for the Lord – not for the “other shoe.”

Consider what you will do today to start retraining your focus toward the goodness of the Lord coming to you, setting yourself in a position of eager anticipation for what He will do. Spend time in praise for who He is, and ask Him to strengthen your faith and your heart to take courage with joy, to wait for Him expectantly and believe you will see His abundant goodness poured out in your life.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,
for His steadfast love endures forever.”
Psalm 136:1

Abounding – Colossians 2:6-7

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
Colossians 2:6-7

Abounding in thanksgiving.

This is not a little “thank you” thrown up every once in awhile. This overflows out of you, out of a heart and perspective filled to overflowing with awareness of all God has done and has promised to do.

Paul’s letters were written to churches that had issues and to people who endured persecution. This, on top of “normal” difficulties we all face: tense and broken relationships, sickness, injury, loss, stress, dreams that just aren’t lining up, and expectations that aren’t being met.

Yet he is clear. Walk in Christ, rooted in Him as your source and foundation, built up and strengthened and encouraged in Him (not in circumstances going as we wish or long for), established in the faith as you were taught – solid, biblical teaching, not corrupted by worldly ideas or our own preferences – and abounding in thanksgiving. 

Which means that Paul knew in the midst of his own severe hardships and disappointments, there is much cause for abundant rejoicing for those who know Jesus Christ as Lord. 

Not because everything goes well.

But because we are His. The sheep of His pasture, with a Good Shepherd who will never lose us or let us lose Him. 

Later in this letter, Paul instructs believers to “seek the things that are above…Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Intentionally focusing our eyes upward, to “where Christ is” (Colossians 3:1-2).

Seek the Lord and ask that His Spirit give you His perspective. As you ask and as you intentionally shift your focus by meditating on, studying, chewing on His Word (showing you mean it, that these aren’t just halfhearted empty words, and that you believe He will answer), our God will do it. He will give you His eyes. 

Paul also instructs believers to pour this outward to each other. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16). 

Teach and admonish one another in all wisdom (and in pure love) – don’t let each other slip in walking with Christ. Watch out for each other and respond in relationship, kindness, and the wisdom from above (see Galatians 6:1 and James 3:13-18). And be receptive and teachable when others seek to do this for you. Do life with each other, so we can be iron sharpening iron, and the strong building up the weak. 

Through conversations and through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, encourage and focus each other on Jesus and truth and spiritual perspective – which is the real perspective.

All of this, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

It is this perspective, God-given and abounding, as He opens our eyes to His glory and power and reality, bears in us His fruits of joy, peace, and love (and more), roots us in His steadfast love that is better than life – this is what cultivates a heart in us that truly abounds in thanksgiving. 

What intentional step will you take today, what habit will you begin to build, to turn your eyes upward and set your mind on things above, where Jesus is? Don’t start big. Choose a small, realistic goal that fits in your current season, and start walking on this path toward a heart abounding in thanksgiving. Seek the Lord. He is ready to respond to you here. 

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Our God Who is Near – Psalm 113:4-9

“The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD!”
Psalm 113:4-9

This combination of verses strikes me as remarkable. Connecting this God, who is high above all nations and has great glory and power, with the poor, needy, and broken. Those who tend to go unnoticed or ignored.

Often when we think of God as far above all, great in majesty and glory, we can feel distant. Like our hurts, fears, and needs are small and He has bigger things to see to. But we don’t see that here.

No, here we see Him lifting the poor and needy and caring for the broken.

He is great and powerful and above all – and because He is so great, He sees you and your needs and is able to handle them alongside those things that feel much bigger. Even more, He wants to do so.

Because He is this God, the One who draws near to the broken and needy, who sees and loves the sinner, He provided a way for us to know Him.

The truth is, it isn’t our smallness that distances us; it’s our sin. The things we all do that miss the mark of what it should be. That miss the mark of who He is, our great and righteous King. This rebellion, this fallen nature and pride, creates a distance we can’t cross.

That’s why Jesus came. That’s why God the Father sent His Son. To live perfectly and hit the mark, and then to die the death we deserve so we never have to. So we can be fully reconciled with this God who loves so purely and powerfully. This God who sees us, knows us, and wants to meet us in our need.

Jesus came to meet our deepest need of salvation and restoration to relationship with Himself – and He will not fail to meet our every need after that.

Come to Him. Receive Him. And praise the Lord who saves us, who hears and responds to us, and whose Spirit dwells within all who come to the Father through Jesus the Son.

“But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, ‘Great is the LORD!’
As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the LORD takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!”
Psalm 40:16-17

Joy and Spiritual Gifts – Ephesians 3:7-9

“Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God‘s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.”
Ephesians 3:7-9

“Though I am the very least.”

In these words, I hear rejoicing at this gift, this grace.

I don’t know that I typically make that connection when reading or hearing about spiritual gifts. For example, looking at Romans 12:6, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.”

In the past, when I’ve thought about these gifts, it’s been more often with practicality: What is the gift and how am I to use it?

I’m seeing that maybe the primary lens I viewed it through was the responsibility to identify and use the gift, rather than the joy that God, in magnificent grace, would not only save me in mercy, but would selectively choose and bestow upon me a gift that will be part of how He builds up His church, makes me like Himself, brings purpose to what I do, and establishes His kingdom.

“Though I am the very least of all.” Paul recognized his unworthiness of this gift. This gift to declare, to preach, to make known.

A gift of preaching often referred to now as a calling. But do we recognize this calling as a beautiful and gracious gift, to be joyfully thankful for by those who receive it? That they would rejoice over this grace?

Yes, there is high responsibility, particularly for pastors and teachers. Yes, there is a seriousness and soberness about it. But at the bottom of it all, and around and within it all, let there be joy. At God’s grace-filled calling, at His provision and equipping and strengthening and faithfulness, at His wisdom promised and given.

And this extends to the rest of us.

Considering the spiritual gifts of faith, of mercy-showing, of exhortation, is the primary lens through which I view these gifts joy and thankfulness that God would show such grace as to give me such a gift? Then, out of that joy and thankfulness, to want to pour myself out in service to this amazing God, who is my purpose, joy, and strength, by using and delighting in the gifts he chose for me?

Is this your lens for the gifts he gives you? Teaching, serving, leading, giving generously, whatever gift(s) the Spirit of God in you has chosen, is it joy for you?

Perhaps it is. Or perhaps we sense it from time to time, but it isn’t the primary perspective. Or maybe we wish our gift was different, believing God bestowed something better on someone else.

His grace toward you and His love for you are more wonderful than you can imagine. Greater than you know. He knit you together from the beginning and has continued making you into who He created you to be, with good works He has prepared in advance for you to do which will fit perfectly within how He has made you and the good, powerful gifts He has given.

You are a part of His story. A beautiful, valuable part. The Lord has called you to Himself and has set you here, and formed you here, and gifted you here to accomplish His purposes in and through you. Not because you earned it and not because He had to, but because He loves you and in His glorious grace is giving you what you need for this moment, for what He has for you and for what that gift looks like now in this season.

Are we cultivating joy, thankfulness, and wonder, that though we may be the least of all, as Paul felt, God would show such grace and give us such gifts for service and joy in the walking out of our purpose to worship God and enjoy him forever?

Oh, may this be the primary lens for me. Not lost in the practicalities or in anxiety of doing it right, but maintaining joy and hope in the Lord who chose us and chose our gifts with love, wisdom, and purpose. The Lord who works in us as we pour ourselves out and work heartily for Him, endeavoring with all the strength He gives us to fulfill our calling to walk worthy of the gospel.

Great responsibility, but what great joy – knowing it isn’t us, but the Lord in us, who accomplishes all His purposes and lovingly, powerfully, brings us into His work.

Not Our Own Doing – Ephesians 2:1-10

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:1-10

I’m struck this morning by how beautifully this passage in Ephesians highlights the truth of the gospel: that we gave God no reason to save us.

We didn’t prove ourselves or show ourselves good enough.

It was all Him. His rich mercy. His great love. Jesus’ powerful, saving work when He took our trespasses and sins on Himself to die on the cross and then rose again from the grave on the 3rd day. A picture of how we are made alive from our spiritual deadness when we receive Him and are reconciled to the Father, and will be bodily resurrected with Him at the end of days, to live with the Lord in pure holiness and joy forever.

This beautiful gift of God, by His glorious grace, not of works, to the praise of His marvelous name.

The Promise is for You – Acts 2:36-41

“‘Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.’
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.’ And with many other words, he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation.’ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”
Acts 2:36-41

How amazing it is that these received salvation. How amazing they must have found the mercy of God.

“His blood be on us and on our children!” – this is what they cried as Pilate gave Jesus up to their demands for His crucifixion (Matthew 27:25).

But here they are “cut to the heart.”

The Holy Spirit unveiled their hearts. These who “crucified and killed” Jesus “by the hands of lawless men” (Acts 2:23) now were given eyes to see that He is the Christ, the promised anointed one of God.

So they cry, possibly in desperation, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

And what is Peter’s answer?

What could they possibly hope for? These who mercilessly shouted for Jesus’s death, ignoring Pilate’s efforts to release Him and Pilate’s statements of Jesus’ innocence. These who thoughtlessly cried, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

Yet Peter’s response reveals the true, beautiful, merciful heart of God:

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Peter does not call out judgment.

He calls them to life.

He calls them to turn and receive forgiveness freely. Forgiveness, even for this.

He calls them to repent and be baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ.” Meaning, in accordance with Jesus’ will and character. This Jesus whom you crucified – His will is for your forgiveness. You killed Him, and He wants to save you. You killed Him, and His will is that you be forgiven forever.

Not to condemn you, but to save you through that death you caused (John 3:17).

And not just that, but in Jesus’s name, in His will, you will receive the Holy Spirit – God Himself!

God the Father, who sent Jesus the Son whom you killed – He has such great mercy and such great love for you that He will give you the gift of His Spirit inside of you, always. To become the temple of the Living God, sealed as His for all the ages. Never to be forsaken. With no need to fear, because you are held in love forever.

Peter declares that the Holy Spirit is not reserved for those who did the “right” things. Not reserved for those who did not reject and scorn and crucify Jesus. But given with love to all who turn to Him and receive forgiveness.

“For the promise is for you and for your children.” This. Oh, this. How their earlier cry might have been echoing in their ears: “His blood be on us and on our children!”

But Jesus, through Peter, says “No.”

Not like that.

My blood is poured out for your salvation, and for theirs.

This promise is for you and for them.

You cried out, carelessly condemning yourselves. But I’m changing it. Yes, my blood be upon you, but to save. Find hope here. I am calling you to myself. Receive me, all who are far off.

And they were changed. He was faithful to His word.

This is the mercy of our God. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done; His heart is to save us. His heart is to forgive and to free.

That we would walk in newness of life, filled with His Spirit, to know fullness of joy and peace with Him as we walk in His light, according to His good ways.

Our sin does not have to define us or determine our future or our eternity. Jesus changes all of that.

That’s how merciful He is. And that’s how powerful His cross and His resurrection are – they change everything.

“This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, who has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12

For All Time – Hebrews 10:12-14

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”
Hebrews 10:12-14

I want to dwell here for a few moments, in these verses that are causing me to pause this morning. Allow truth to settle into my soul, considering words and phrases and what they convey.

“When Christ had offered” – Christ offered this. He offered Himself. Other priest’s offerings, or offerings given by the people, were outside of themselves, like livestock or harvested food. Jesus’ offering was much more personal and much more costly. And it was freely, willingly given. Hands open to offer up this sacrifice. For us.

“He sat down” – Decisive, final victory. No question. No struggle. No doubt. Only victory. Our Conqueror. “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is the Word of God…On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:11-13, 16).

“At the right hand of God” – Positioned at the highest place, ruling over all as part of the Godhead. Our Sovereign and King. “He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16).

“Waiting from that time” – Oh, the great mercy of God to save us. See His heart here, in the waiting. Because justice will come, but salvation is fervently offered in the meantime to all who will turn to Him. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise…but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed…But according to his promise we are waiting for the new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells…And count the patience of the Lord as salvation” (2 Peter 3:9-15). “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22).

“Until his enemies should be made a footstool” – Victory is won, and it is assured. Darkness and evil will not overcome the Light. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

“By a single offering” – What power is revealed in this offering! Where other offerings were made year after year, this single offering – the offering of the life of the Son of God – encompasses all, for all time! What power! What perfection! What fullness and wholeness! And oh, what great love! “He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).

“He has perfected for all time” – Our holiness and perfection, as those redeemed by His sacrifice, is as settled and sure as His victory, because of His victory over sin. Jesus came to redeem all of creation, and to redeem a people for God who are blameless and without sin. Not because we were blameless before, but because He makes us so. We accept Him and He has perfected us, for all time. 

“Those who are being sanctified” – A continued and faithful process in this mortal life. We rest and rejoice in the promise that Jesus has perfected us, and that He will accomplish all of His work within us to bring us into that perfection for eternity, in the most thorough and beautiful of ways. And not merely a purifying of our behavior, but a perfecting of our heart and soul, writing His words and His ways within us. Making us wholly like Himself to our very core. The fullness of who we are meant to be as His. Still uniquely us in our expression of our God, but wholly like Him in the fullness of His character and beauty, freed from the corruption of a sinful world. “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

To Save – Matthew 12:14-21

“But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him.
Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
‘Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
and in his name the Gentiles will hope.’”
Matthew 12:14-21

Jesus was entirely focused on His mission. On the purpose for which He was sent: to save.

Not to defend Himself.

Not to force belief.

Not to get caught up in fruitless debates.

He declared truth and did not shy from demonstrating the power and heart of God, and He didn’t allow anything to draw Him away from what was most important.

What an amazing Savior. What an amazing God. And what an example for me.

How often can I get discouraged or distracted, pulled away from that which is most important? How quickly do I want to defend, when perhaps that isn’t the priority?

Jesus demonstrates the truest wisdom for us: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17).

From a worldly perspective that looks weak. As does the description in the prophecy quoted in Matthew. The world doesn’t perceive strength and authority the way that Jesus showed us. 

Jesus came to proclaim justice to the Gentiles, to bring justice to victory, and to be the hope for the Gentiles as well as the fulfillment of the promises and prophecies given to the Jews. And His way of accomplishing this didn’t look the way they expected. His victory was won quite differently. 

Because His way, and His heart, is to save, not to condemn. And He didn’t need to prove His authority; it was settled. Unquestionable. And will never be overtaken. Others’ rejection isn’t a threat to Him. Far to the contrary, it hurts His heart because His desire is to save – which is why His cry on the cross, in agony and with many despising and mocking Him, was “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). 

Oh, may I see as He sees. May the Lord give me His eyes and His heart. Declaring truth with love, demonstrating His power and His heart in my life, pouring myself out with the focus of Jesus: the glory of God through the salvation of many.

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name…Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:27-32

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17

“[Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.“ Hebrews 1:3a