Jerusalem, in the life of our Lord, represents the place where He reached the culmination of His Father’s will. Jesus said, “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me” (John 5:30). Seeking to do “the will of the Father” was the one dominating concern throughout our Lord’s life. And whatever He encountered along the way, whether joy or sorrow, success or failure, He was never deterred from that purpose. “…He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem…” (Luke 9:51).The greatest thing for us to remember is that we go up to Jerusalem to fulfill God’s purpose, not our own. In the natural life our ambitions are our own, but in the Christian life we have no goals of our own. We talk so much today about our decisions for Christ, our determination to be Christians, and our decisions for this and that, but in the New Testament the only aspect that is brought out is the compelling purpose of God. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…” (John 15:16).We are not taken into a conscious agreement with God’s purpose— we are taken into God’s purpose with no awareness of it at all. We have no idea what God’s goal may be; as we continue, His purpose becomes even more and more vague. God’s aim appears to have missed the mark, because we are too nearsighted to see the target at which He is aiming. At the beginning of the Christian life, we have our own ideas as to what God’s purpose is. We say, “God means for me to go over there,” and, “God has called me to do this special work.” We do what we think is right, and yet the compelling purpose of God remains upon us. The work we do is of no account when compared with the compelling purpose of God. It is simply the scaffolding surrounding His work and His plan. “He took the twelve aside…” (Luke 18:31). God takes us aside all the time. We have not yet understood all there is to know of the compelling purpose of God.

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August 3 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, this devotional reminds us that You are God, and Your ways may not be our ways. Often I forget that it is not Your role to bless what we think  our “good Christian service” or our ideas of the best outcomes through our circumstances. But how can we be certain that we are pursuing the right duties, obligations, and or opportunities ordained by You? How can we be certain that we are not pursuing our own ideas of what those duties, obligations and opportunities might be?

And God says…”Remember, I do not want your duties, obligations or rule keeping, I want an intimate relationship that will result in your transformation. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will provide everything else you need to live an abundant life, including the discernment about your ways, My ways and the path to obedience. Delight yourself in the Lord and I will give you the desires of your heart. Acknowledge Me in all your ways and I will make your paths straight.”

“The key to certainty about My will is to simply be surrendered, connected, curious and obedient to Me. Seek Me and you will find Me. Knock and the door will be answered. And when you do not feel as if I am responding quickly enough to address your circumstances or problems, remember that those that wait upon the Lord run and do not get weary, their strength is renewed and they soar like having the wings of eagles. When you are discouraged, remember My promises, for I know the plans I have for you, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”