In His Hands

Read |Matthew 27: 32 - 44; Hebrews 12: 1 - 3; Corinthians 5: 11 - 21|

What love exists without true knowing?
What care can be given without understanding?
So I brought you to a place of learning,
So you could grow up in your loving.

I taught you the way of faith in blindness;
I taught you the way of love in the face of fear;
I taught you of Living Water through thirst;
I taught you of Heavenly Bread through hunger;
I taught you of the Light's great power in the darkness;
I taught you of fullness in the emptying;
I taught you of wholeness in the breaking;
I taught you of life through death's valley.

Now go!
Go in all your knowing;
Go with your understanding;
Go love and care for the blind,
Fearful,
Thirsty,
Hungry,
Down-pressed in spirit,
Empty,
Broken,
Dying.

The lashings, the insults, the rejection, the nails, the cross-- all embraced. The only thing rejected was the gall that would have made Him insensible to the pain of the cross. (Matthew 27: 34). He came from heaven to earth to give Himself as a full and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world and He pressed fully into every moment of the journey. Pain, was neither a motivator nor a detractor. Comfort, was neither a motivator, nor a detractor. Acceptance, was neither a motivator nor detractor. Purpose. He was purpose driven. "For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12: 2, NIV). For the glory set before Him He endured. We--reconciled unto God through His sacrifice--was the glory set before Him. We, who heaped insults on Him, were on His mind. What great love on display! He endured because of His great love--and how grateful we are that He did. 

His perfect sacrifice has given us a life we could never have imagined. Whereas, we were once in disparate places, cut off from the life of God, we have now been highly esteemed as members of His body. (1 Corinthians 12: 27). As members of His body, we know that we have no life in ourselves, except the life that flows from the Head. We know that our purpose is found in the Head. And Beloved, His purpose still endures. He still yearns to draw all people unto Himself. Therefore, we give ourselves over to the will of our Head who has "committed to us the message of reconciliation." So, whether in our coming or going, our rising or setting, we are on mission. We are giving ourselves over in faithful love and gratitude to our Creator, so that in His hands He may make us as true ambassadors of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5: 20). 

We are encouraged by His perfect example. We embrace the journey from the Father and back. We are willing to be taught in blindness, the face of fear, thirst, hunger, darkness, emptying and even death--for the joy set before us. The joy that was on our Savior's mind over 2000 years ago, and still pulsates within His heart today, is now ours. We have been blessed to be placed in His body and now we carry His heart's yearning and press into purpose, no matter the pain, discomfort or rejection. Purpose. We are purpose driven. And our purpose--from start to finish--declares the greatest love of all.

Heavenly Father, may our hearts yearn in agreement with yours for the reconciliation of all people unto yourself. May we embrace the fullness of your perfect love, which makes enduring possible--even desirable. We thank you for making us a part of your beloved Body and your beautiful work here on earth. In Jesus' name, amen.