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, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Father God, where does the spiritual fire go, one day to the next? Yesterday I was so certain, so focused and then this morning I seemed to have mislaid that surety of purpose. Yesterday I knew the direction you laid out for me, and yet I am not quite so certain this morning. What happened?

And God says…”I give you manna for each day. Do not try to carry over yesterday’s certainty for today. Arise knowing that I will give you the manna you need each morning, afternoon and evening. Do not worry about tomorrow or this morning, or even the next hour. Live in the moment knowing I am with you. The purpose I gave you yesterday is still there, you simply need to meet Me fresh each morning knowing I will reinforce your sense of purpose and certainty. I will remind you of your “promised land’ and give you the strength, purpose and provision to energize your new day.”