Greetings in the name of the One who endured the cross for us, Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! I trust that you have had a good week and are looking forward to the weekend…expecting to be touched by God as you gather with your church family. I have a sense that God is preparing to release an outpouring of spiritual energy and that lives will be transformed. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to encourage you in your daily walk with Him.
I have been thinking about this coming Sunday, as it is Palm Sunday. Two verses of Scripture capture my attention – one that highlights Jesus’ response to His mission and one that invites – challenges us to respond. First, we read these words: As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 NIV (the King James Version says that Jesus “set His face” toward His destiny). The second verse goes like this: And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1c-2a NIV.
So, when I think of Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, I understand that He is on mission and His eyes are fixed on what is required of him. In similar fashion when you and I are living our daily lives as followers of Jesus Christ we are on mission as well. We, too, must keep our eyes fixed on what is required of us. A quote that I came across this morning states: It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of working to keep our eyes focused and on the right goal. Examine yourself before God to see if your life is measuring up to the standard He has for you. Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost For His Highest.”
I must confess that the times that I have failed to be all that He requires of me happened when I lost my focus. So, on this Palm Sunday weekend I am reminded to refocus on what God requires of me and to persevere. The encouraging part of this challenge is how the apostle Paul describes it: So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you. Take your everyday, ordinary life — your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life — and place it before God as an offering. Romans 12:1 The Message. Now, that is the mission I am called to…and so are you. Don’t lose your focus! Persevere – keep on keeping on!
Have a great weekend – be blessed!