Wednesday 3 Mar 2021

March 3: Matthew 20:17-19
 
Key Verse: Matthew 20:19
and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
 
Devotion:
Jesus knew what was in store for Him and He still went ahead with following God’s will and obeying God in every step of His life on earth. What an example for us to follow! It is very hard to go ahead with something when you are sure you will get persecuted or hurt. We learn to be afraid of some things in life and we avoid them in our life to live a bit longer... but what happens when that clashes with God’s will?
 
We are going to face some horrible things in life just because we live with some horrible people on earth. People abuse their power and their positions in society and often make other people’s lives a misery! Jesus warns us against this because it is working against or hurting people who He created! We are all His creation, and He loves us all – when we work against someone, we are working against God’s child!
 
Jesus showed just how hard it was to stick with it, but He showed us so we could be encouraged to not just follow God but to do what he asks. Sometimes what we do is skewed by our own desires instead of listening to what God wants. This is because of our own wants and needs and even fears. Sometimes we have to stop what we are doing and face up to those fears so we can do more for God in the future!
 
Jesus was getting closer to facing that time when He would be beaten and killed, but he knew this was the only way He could be there for us all and pave the way for us to join Him later in Heaven. Jesus did this because His love for us was greater than His fear and He knew it was what God wanted.
 
Points to Ponder:
Do you know what God wants in your life?
 
Are you willing to listen to God and Obey?