Dear Explorer,
Read Luke 13:31-33
Do you think the Pharisees were trying to protect Jesus?
No way! The Pharisees weren't trying to protect Jesus. They were trying to get Him to stop His ministry! But Jesus said He would continue as long as God directed Him. He also said He would reach His goal.
What do you think Jesus' goal was?
I believe His goal was to die for our sins and the 3 days refers to His time in the grave. But that's just a foreshadowing of the future and we will discuss it later.
What are things that Satan could use to tempt you to stop being obedient to Jesus?
There have been times when I have been tempted to stop my ministry. There have been times I have stopped and regretted it. Some of those temptations include: time constraints, financial concerns, peer pressure, social conformity, health concerns, focusing on self-needs.
When I was working with abused women, I was putting in long weeks – listening and being available to love and care for them. Friends in my prayer group said that I needed to set reasonable boundaries when they learned that my phone rang in the middle of the night most nights. But what are reasonable boundaries when God has called you to “be there” and “be available?” Emotional and physical pain are always worse in the middle of the night. Was I supposed to tell the hurting ladies, “Don't call me – I need to sleep?” I trusted God to provide me with the strength I needed. Once the abused women learned that I really meant it when I said I would be there anytime they needed me – they began to trust me more. Then I could teach them that God loved them more than I did and that He was truly available 24 x 7. As they grew stronger and began to heal, they began calling less often in the middle of the night.
Through this season of ministry, I missed a lot of sleep, but I found that God was faithful to provide me with everything that I needed to minister to a group that most people did not consider of value. If I had put my sleep first – set boundaries as to when I could be disturbed, these women might not be healed today. If Jesus had put His safety first – you and I would be lost!
God's call in our lives has got to come first. Our obedience to Him is really tested when we are tempted to look out for ourselves rather than be obedient.
I will go on record as saying that much that is being written today about setting boundaries is very good. But much is also based on setting reasonable boundaries on your ministry. When we rely on reason, or logic or psychology to set our boundaries instead of letting the Holy Spirit guide us – we are operating under SELF and not the Holy Spirit. So, be careful! When you rely on the Holy Spirit you can be absolutely sure that He knows what is best for all involved.
In Luke 13:32, Jesus says, “I will keep on until I reach the goal….” I pray that you, too, will desire to please God with your obedience and persevere to reach the goals that He sets for you.
Read Luke 13:34-35
Jesus expresses again His deep, deep love for the people. He says that He wishes He could protect each and every one of them. So, why doesn't He?
In Luke 13:34, it says, “…but you were not willing.”
God intends for you to have the complete freedom to choose. Inviting Jesus into your life is an individual choice. Jesus will not force you to invite Him in, nor to obey Him. But He wants you to know that He loves you and desires the best for you.
In His service, dale
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