This week, each day's devotion draws from the events of Jesus' final days before his crucifixion while also offering some wisdom from other learned men. Together they help us pray, "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil."
Yesterday was Palm Sunday. It is traditionally remembered as the day Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey to the welcoming shouts and cheers of the crowd (see Luke 19:29-44). However, despite their fervent excitement, in only a few days, their cheers would turn to jeers. Jesus wasn't who they thought He would be. He wasn't who they expected. He wasn't who they wanted. They wanted a King; Jesus came as a servant. They wanted to oust the Romans; Jesus came to deal with their guilt and unrighteousness. They wanted power; Jesus came with humility. They had their dreams of what a Saviour would mean. God had different plans. Better plans!
Yesterday was Palm Sunday. It is traditionally remembered as the day Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey to the welcoming shouts and cheers of the crowd (see Luke 19:29-44). However, despite their fervent excitement, in only a few days, their cheers would turn to jeers. Jesus wasn't who they thought He would be. He wasn't who they expected. He wasn't who they wanted. They wanted a King; Jesus came as a servant. They wanted to oust the Romans; Jesus came to deal with their guilt and unrighteousness. They wanted power; Jesus came with humility. They had their dreams of what a Saviour would mean. God had different plans. Better plans!
God often works like that, especially when it comes to our prayers. We might have a particular idea of how and when God should answer, but God has other plans. Certainly, that is often true with regards to our temptation and wrestle with sin. Couldn't God just do away with our sin altogether and make us practically perfect? Why doesn't God fix my sinful urges as soon as I ask Him?
John Newton has some insight to offer:
John Newton has some insight to offer:
"Sin is the sickness of the soul, in itself mortal and incurable, as to any power in heaven or earth but that of the Lord Jesus only. But He is the great, the infallible Physician. Have we the privilege to know His name? Have we been enabled to put ourselves into His hand? We have then no more to do but to attend his prescriptions, to be satisfied with His methods, and to wait His time. It is lawful to wish we were well; it is natural to groan, being burdened; but still he must and will take His own course with us; and, however dissatisfied with ourselves, we ought still to be thankful that He has begun His work in us, and to believe that He will also make an end.... We are sure, that when the Lord delivers us from the guilt and dominion of sin, he could with equal ease free us entirely from sin, if He pleased. The doctrine of sinless perfection is not to be rejected, as though it were a thing simply impossible in itself, for nothing is too hard for the Lord, but because it is contrary to that method which he has chosen to proceed by. He has appointed that sanctification should be effected, and sin mortified, not at once completely, but by little and little; and doubtless he has wise reasons for it. Therefore, though we are to desire a growth in grace, we should, at the same time, acquiesce in his appointment, and not be discouraged or despond, because we feel that conflict which his word informs us will only terminate with our lives."
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
- Does God ever do things, or not do things, in a way you never expected? Can you think of some particular examples?
- Can you identify such times when, in the long run, how God operated was much better than how you expected?
- What especially strikes you in what John Newton wrote?
- How do these thoughts help us pray, 'Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil?
John Newton made this comment in a latter to Hannah Wilberforce (Auntie to the more famous William Wilberforce).