03. The Price of Love
Wednesday 14th Feb
(for more details see here)
Pause:
God, You are not the God of chaos, but of calm
God, not of retaliation, but of reconciliation
God, not of anger, but of acceptance
God, not of prejudice, but of perfect peace
May we learn to love Your path of peace
May we learn to live in the power of Your peace
So Lord, help us now to still ourselves before You:
Be still my body…
Be still my strength…
Be still my mind…
Be still my spirit…
Be still my heart…
Be still my soul…
And here and now,
in this moment of stillness we pray:
Speak Lord, your servant is listening.
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I think we probably thought this would be good news to Jesus' ears, but His answer rocked us to the core.
We should have by now been used to Jesus giving surprising responses:
...asking deeper questions...
...probing masked desires...
...finding hidden treasures...
But this seemed to be an easy question - a simple request that we were not used to Him turning down.
"Sir, we would like to see Jesus." the Greeks had asked.
I mean, who doesn't love it when people want to spend time with them?
Who wouldn't want to be sought out in this way?
And surely, there was no question when it came to Jesus. Jesus loved people - in fact He loved people in a way this world has never seen before. His capacity for people could often leave us nervous or exhausted. He has more time for people than there are hours in the day... So, clear the path - Jesus will surely be thrilled to know there are more people for Him to love just queueing up...
But... no.
Not on this occasion.
And despite all His previous attempts to prepare us, we weren't prepared for this:
A calm resolve fell over His face.
"My time has come. The Son of Man will be glorified. Make sure you hear this, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."
Jesus' eyes are on another prize. One we didn't fully understand then - but do now.
Like a seed in the Sower's hand, Jesus was about to be cast to the ground. He wasn't thinking about His reputation, or His ego. He wasn't thinking about Himself. He was thinking about a harvest of "many seeds..." To fully love these people waiting to see Him meant saying no to another opportunity in order to yes to the cross. He couldn't be with them right now, but He was going to be prepare a place for them to be with Him forever.
And not just them... You and I too.
And the harvest of "many seeds" to come...
But Jesus isn't finished yet. Not by a long way.
"Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."
Jesus was walking the way of the cross - and inviting us, you and I, to walk it too.
Time fully given over to work of the Kingdom.
Ego surrendered for the purposes of God.
Sacrifice as lifestyle.
That's Jesus.
That's where He is going.
And His question today is as simple as it is difficult: Are you coming too?
Reflection:
"As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus set His face like flint towards Jerusalem."
LUKE 9.51
Jesus' focus on walking the way of the cross will not be distracted - not just by obviously bad things but also by other good things. His love is absolutely resolute. His purpose in crystal clear in His mind. His focus is fixed.
I wonder how often the purposes of God get derailed in our lives when we settle for something good, when God has something great and glorious in mind.
Questions:
Lord, Your word tells me that: "This is the day the Lord has made..." so what did You have in mind for today when you created it?
What did You have in mind for me when You created me?
Help me to use this day to step closer into all You have created me for.
Prayer:
Take time to digest Jesus' words from this passage:
“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.”
As you enter a time of prayer, use His prayer as a catalyst for your own:
Father, glorify Your name in... (name before Him the activities of this day)
Father, glorify Your name in... (think of a burden you are carrying right now)
Father, glorify Your name in... (hold before Him your closest relationships)
Father, glorify Your name in... (name before Him a temptation you regularly face)
Father, glorify Your name in... (speak out the names of people and places you are concerned for)
I prayed this.
My prayer for today: (if you would like to, please feel free to add your own prayer here):