THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2013
2 Samuel 15:23–16:23
John 18:25–19:22
Psalm 119:113–128
Proverbs 16:10,11
“You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word.
Away from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commands of my God!
Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live;
do not let my hopes be dashed.
Uphold me, and I will be delivered;
I will always have regard for your decrees.” (Psalm 119:114–117)
“The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth should not betray justice.” (Proverbs 16:10)
As Jesus stands before Pilate, He speaks truth to power. Pilate has only received the power to judge the matchless, sinless Son because of God’s sovereign choice: “Jesus answered, ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.’” (John 19:11a)
Jesus’s confident and well-deserved assurance in His righteousness stands in stark contrast to Pilate’s moral expediency. The One from Above stands firm in His will, while Pilate squirms to channel the people’s will and bolster his own standing. In the end, Pilate accedes to crucify Jesus, even after determining His innocence and finding some resolve “to set Jesus free. But the Jews kept shouting, ‘If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.’” The Jewish leaders accused this true King of blasphemy: for having claimed the eternal “I am” status.
The Lord Jesus Christ obediently endured this mockery of a trial and the certain condemnation that followed it in order to provide forgiveness to those who would trust in Him. In doing so, He painted a picture of the rewards of obedience: despite the pain and the cost, living righteously and for God’s glory will bring about God’s purposes and produce eternal rewards.
Have you ever experienced the calm assurance of standing firm in God’s will and His truth? As Nikkie mentioned yesterday, we struggle and stain to position ourselves where we might fit best, to take the most out of life. Yet, when we submit to His purposes and direction, we may rest confidently in His provision, care, and presence. Please note that I am not highlighting the tie between obedience and daily health for its sake alone, but rather these fruit come as a byproduct of living victoriously for the King.
As an illustration, consider an upcoming trip. Often, we rush frantically in preparation for an out-of-town excursion, packing our suitcases, gathering our travel documents, and rushing to the airport or train station. Yet, once we have sat on the train or plane or car, we may rest, knowing that the pre-set itinerary will govern the next steps. The itinerary provides structure for the journey ahead. Similarly, studying God’s Word enables us to order our lives around God’s priorities, in order to travel according to His itinerary for us.
On another note, I often face strong waves of self-doubt. In my mind, I sense a raging condemnation, an attack against the createdness of God in me. This battle appears spiritual in its nature, not fleshly. While we all struggle with daily insecurities, these falsehoods seem tied to a more sinister and destructive force. Their character brings to mind John 8:44: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
As a parallel, perhaps these experiences and today’s passage indicate that, while Jesus faced doubts over who He was, we will face similar pressures, but more importantly over the question of “Whose am I?” The Evil One wishes to erase the goodness of God, the joy of His people, the advancement of His Kingdom, and ultimately His glory. Into this battle, we venture, empowered by the Spirit and girded in the truth: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.” (2 Corinthians 10:3–6)
Yet, we must appropriate this truth on a moment-by-moment basis. When we fail to do so, we become vulnerable to attack and ready prey for the Evil One. We may rejoice in His redemption within us, which brings transformation:
1. Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
2. 2 Corinthians 3:18: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
3. 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
4. Ephesians 4:20–24: “That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Father, we are grateful that You have provided a clear example of walking in obedience to the truth through Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We seek to follow His path of obedience and humbly request Your renewing our minds, moment by moment, so that we may understand and live according to Your will. We seek to bring You glory through our thoughts, words, and deeds and to bless Your people. Bring Your Word alive in our hearts and minds, and help us to be fully transformed according to Your character. In Jesus’s mighty Name, Amen.
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