While teaching my kids yesterday a biblical truth leaped at me. A truth that I known before but for some reason it deepen my love for Christ yesterday.
The thought was the truth that Christ willingly and joyfully wanted to die for sinners.
A verse worth meditating upon is the following:
“looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
The verse mentioned the joy of Christ. And the Joy of Christ is concerning something that normally we associate with the opposite of joy: Suffering. Specifically in Christ’s case it is with the following: “endured the cross.” This include also being shamed as the verse mentioned.
That is incredible.
Most of us would not want to go through something like that; and if we do face such a situation many of us would not want to do it willingly with joy.
But Christ did so with Joy.
What’s the application for us with knowing this about our Savior? “looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith.” We got to behold and focus with worshipping Him. Notice Christ is one who perfect our faith; and our faith becomes more sanctified the more we behold him (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).
I think meditating upon Christ’s willingness to suffer and obey God the Father moves my own motive to obey God willingly. Christians need to understand that we cannot make a shortcut to holiness by removing worshipping Christ; furthermore it is worshipping Christ that fuels our sanctification and holiness. It is the rubber that meets the road of true transformation!
The Domain for Truth 
We serve an amazing God. This is stunning. “And the Joy of Christ is concerning something that normally we associate with the opposite of joy: Suffering.”
Shalom!
Such an amazing Savior. Have a blessed day thanks for the comment!
Recognizing this helps us to take up our own cross daily–to suffer for Christ’s sake. I just have to keep this top of mind instead of being led by myriad distractions…
How we need Christ to be our focus! I pray we both behold Him!
Amen to that!
When behold Christ, we focus on Him, and our obedience become more intentional, and our trust in Him stronger. 🙏❤️
Amen sister, amen!
Thank you. I cannot add a word.
Thanks for reading this
Good reminder: “Notice Christ is one who perfect our faith; and our faith becomes more sanctified the more we behold him (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).”
Amen thanks for highlighting that quote from the post! I appreciate it very much brother! Jesus is awesome!!
Thanks for this. Remembering Christ’s obedient journey to the cross is an example for my own obedience – and to obey with joy.
Joyful obedience is possible only through focusing and worshipping Christ and the Gospel! Of course we won’t be perfect with doing so but He gives grace! Last night had premarital counseling and today had calls with ministry; how goes your day?
Amen!
Hope everything went well with ministry! Today was pretty slow, but tomorrow we drive to Buffalo for a meeting with the IRS. Ach.
I will be praying for y’all. I have been dealing with the IRS all year for something that’s already been paid, I totally empathize!!!!!
Thanks for your prayers for Tom! While I never had IRS problem I did had problem with the VA for over a year when they accidently sent me 12 K to my bank account, took it back the next day and for a whole year they kept on saying I owe them money and finally they reported it and lower my credit score…for something I never owe since they took it back. Calling them was so frustrating and they contacted the Department of Treasury but forgot to also tell them it was solved. I called Department of Treasury and they said they told me the VA said nothing has changed…sigh long rant, but the Feds are very incompetent
Yes they are!!!!!!
Thank you, Mandy! I hope your issue gets sorted out! Ours is a messy problem linked to Corinne’s disability payments that we should not be liable for.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you, Mandy!!!
Thinking about His joy to die to save me has forever changed my thoughts and attitudes during communion. Hard to put into words, but in retrospect communion used to be kind of a ritual. Now it is very much personal and intimate. He died in my place because He *wanted* to save me!
Praise God with how this glorious truth makes it so much personal and for us to love Him more! Thanks for sharing that Mark!
My life is His, AMEN
Amen sister!! Blessings to you today!!!
Thank you, Jim. If we knew the glory, love, and joy the Father and the Son “had together before the world was” (Jn. 17:5) we would understand how “He humbled Himself to the point of death and fulfilled the Father’s will, so to bring us to share their glory. Through their love for each other and for us. that joy with the Father “set before Him” will be our joy together with them eternally.This is how we witness and share our love and joy with others — the fruit of His Spirit in and through us.
Amen well said Frances. Knowing God and the Gospel changes everything!
Amen! “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
🙌🙌🙌 Oh, what a Wonderful Savior He is! 🙌🙌🙌
That verse is super amazing one of my favorite! Amen He is a wonderful Savior!
A wonderful meditation to read this morning and praise God that it was sparked by a discussion with your children! So we also learn from the “knee” of the Holy Spirit even as our kids do from their mother and father’s knee. What joy we have in Christ who joyfully laid down His life for us!
Amen! Amen to this especially: “ So we also learn from the “knee” of the Holy Spirit even as our kids do from their mother and father’s knee.”. Have a blessed Lord’s Day Sunday
Thank you, Jimmy! Blessings to you and your family!
Amen and Amen.
And amen Bonnie. Thanks for dropping by!
You are welcome, Pastor Jim.
Beautiful and incredibly thought provoking! 💜
Thank you sister! God bless you!