Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Yet for the Joy that was set before Him....

This morning, I was reading Help in Daily Living. And I came upon the quote that says, "Ever before Him, Christ saw the result of His mission. His earthly life, so full of toil and self-sacrifice, was cheered by the thought that He would not have all this travail for nought. By giving His life for the life of men, He would restore in humanity the image of God. He would lift us up from the dust, reshape the character after the pattern of His own character, and make it beautiful with His own glory. Christ saw of the travail of His soul and was satisfied. He viewed the expanse of eternity and saw the happiness of those who through His humiliation should receive pardon and everlasting life. He was wounded for their transgressions, bruised for their iniquities. The chastisement of their peace was upon Him, and with His stripes they were healed. He heard the shout of the redeemed. He heard the ransomed ones singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Although the baptism of blood must first be received, although the sins of the world were to weigh upon HIs innocent soul, although the shadow of an unspeakable woe was upon Him; yet for the joy that was set before Him He chose to endure the cross and despised the shame." p. 51-52

As I read this, I tried to understand the feelings that Christ had, but I couldn't imagine them fully. Christ loved, but he loved more then I love anyone on this earth. And that makes it so hard to imagine being separated from loved ones when you love them more. Here on this earth, my heart aches when I'm separated from the ones I love. Christ heart must have hurt so much more then mine. But then I look at what kept Him going. He had His eyes locked on the goal. That last sentence of the quote says it all. Even though He went through unspeakable woe, yet it was because of the joy set before Him that He chose to endured. Notice it says He chose to endure. I know from experience, that if I don't choose to endure, and choose to be strong, and choose to be happy, it is so much harder. Even if and when we don't feel like we can make it. It is our choosing to press on, that will enable Christ to strength us. We can't give up. When I think of Christ, He went through all of that hardship and hurt not just for the people that would accept Him, but also for the people that would reject him. That thought, would make it so much harder to endure. Yet Christ had to think of the people that would accept His gift, because it made the world for them. As we go through this life, there will be trials and obstacles in our way, but we must continue to keep our eyes on our goal. Heaven is closer then we think.

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