How did Jesus associate with sinners?

 3 May 26

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One


Readings:

1 Kings 6

1 Kings 7

Luke 23:27-38


And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left (Luke 23:33). 


How did Jesus associate with sinners?


Jesus begins His ministry by identifying with sinners. Luke records, “When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized” (Luke 3:21). Similarly, He ends His ministry on earth between two thieves. Why? For one, He fulfills prophecy. Isaiah writes, “And He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many” (Isaiah 53:12). Paul captures the essence of why Jesus is baptized with sinners and dies between two sinners. “For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Although Jesus never sinned, He became the substitute for sinners and willingly identified with them. 


Employment Point: Believe on Jesus, who died among sinners to save sinners.

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Reflections 

“The word of the Lord came to Solomon: “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.””1 Kings‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • Israel will always hold a special place in the Lord’s heart. Perhaps we can consider praying for Israel along with other prayers as well. That they all remember the Lord’s teachings, His Word and return back to Him, loving the Lord and His people.


“In the eleventh year in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in all its details according to its specifications. He had spent seven years building it.”1 Kings‬ ‭6‬:‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • much elaborations and caution has gone into the building of the temple. I believe Solomon also wants to make it right because it is not just a normal temple, this is meant for the Lord’s dwelling as well as an expression of his obedience to the Lord.


“When all the work King Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated—the silver and gold and the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭7‬:‭51‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • As I read the whole of 1 Kings 7 describing how King Solomon built his palace, it is also rather extensive. Its added details included bronze works from Hiram that he had hired and is gifted in constructing bronze items.
  • At the end of the chapter, it is mentioned that Solomon placed all the silver and gold dedicated to the Lord. It seems to tell us that it is on purpose that this is mentioned so that we know his heart is still centered in Christ. The Lord is not forgotten even though he has much.


“The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.”Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭36‬-‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • this is great irony. They didn’t believe that Jesus is the King and asked Him to save himself. Had they understood what it meant to save, I guess nobody will dare to say anything anymore.
  • Maybe we are the same as well. Understanding things only from a limited angle and likely also have certain preconceived notions as well. We don’t truly understand what is happening but we thought we do, also forgetting that the Lord’s ways are higher than ours.
  • If Jesus were to save Himself at that point in time, there would be no salvation. He would have defeated the whole purpose of coming to the world as fully God and fully man. He would have disappointed the Father because of His disobedience. We read in the bible that He does have the ability to call upon legions and obviously to also bring himself out of this situation but this is not to be.
  • He endured all these mockery of men. Foolish men like ourselves who know no better. He did not bother explaining Himself out of the situation. He just let it be.. and time proved itself and spoke the loudest for Him.
  • I just feel this is also a plain reminder to us too that anything can happen. We can’t be too sure of whatever that is happening and say this is this or that is that. no! Only the Father has the ability to say yes. And perhaps the best way to deal with mockery may just be silence. For like Jesus, time will prove itself.

————————

Vital Intercession

BY OSWALD CHAMBERS

May 03


Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. — Ephesians 6:18


If we are praying as this verse commands, our prayers might cost the ones for whom we pray more than we expect. When we begin to intercede in prayer for others, God begins to lift them into a totally different sphere, a process that may involve trials and difficulties. We have to make sure that our natural sympathy doesn’t get in God’s way. If we slip from identifying with his interests in others into personal sympathy for them, our vital connection with God will be lost. Putting sympathy first is a rebuke to him.


It is impossible to pray vitally unless we have perfect confidence in God. Personal sympathy and prejudice weaken this confidence; identification with God ensures it. Whenever we stop being identified with God, it is because of sympathy, not sin. Sin isn’t likely to interfere with our relationship to God, but sympathy will make us say, “I refuse to allow this to happen.” When we refuse to allow God to have his way, we have lost our vital connection with him.


If we are interceding properly, we have neither time nor inclination to pray for our own sad, sweet selves. It’s not that we’re working hard to keep thoughts of ourselves at bay; thoughts of ourselves simply aren’t there. In vital intercession, we are completely and entirely identified with God’s interests, and our natural sympathy—for ourselves and for others—is entirely eclipsed.


1 Kings 14-15; Luke 22:21-46


WISDOM FROM OSWALD

We are apt to think that everything that happens to us is to be turned into useful teaching; it is to be turned into something better than teaching, viz. into character. We shall find that the spheres God brings us into are not meant to teach us something but to make us something.

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Reflections

If we were to pray in the Spirit, it will have to be understood that we are praying in line with the Lord. In order to do that, we first need to have a right relationship with the Lord, then we can pray according to His will. He promises us, if we pray according to His will, He hears us 1 John 5:14.


We find ourselves at battles with the Lord because we do not understand His thoughts and His ways. Like how Oswald puts it, we refused to let such things happen. Perhaps the more common issue would be illness. Someone was diagnosed with cancer and we intercede for them in prayers. How should be pray that it is in line with Him and His ways and that we will not get rebuked for trying to stand in His way of things? 


We believe He is the great healer, He has full control and has full power over everything in heaven and on earth. But can we trust Him enough to let Him do His thing? Do we still pray for others for healing? Of course! We pray for mercy and grace and ask that the Lord heals the person, comfort them as well as their family members and help them not to be anxious but fill their hearts with His peace. Nobody likes to be in such a sticky situation but we have the peace knowing that it is our Abba Father who is in charge of this. Let His plan prevail.


The learning of surrender is a process that is learnt over time. The more we let go and let Him, the more we encounter the Lord and experience His greatness over situations. He has taught us the reliance on Him alone is sufficient and it is enough. No regrets, no pain. It is an inner joy of knowing where we are heading after we passed. It is a time of rejoicing with shouts of hallelujah because we are finally done with earth! Praise You Lord!!


Let’s pray:


Father as we come to You in prayers and intercession, may You search our hearts and reveal to us the areas where we fall short. As we learn to grow in our faith, Father we pray for mercy and grace upon us and may You teach us how we can fully let go and let You take over. Help us to come to you in full surrender and a strength that is matchless, that we shall have no fear for whatever that is ahead for You, our LORD and Abba Father, cares and loves us more than any humans. Praise and thanks be to You Lord. In Jesus’s name we ask and pray. Amen 🙏🏻 

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