"Normal" Produces God's Work

For Friday, January 20

"Normal" Produces God's Work

Mark 15 (click to read)

9Pilate asked them, "Do you want me to free the king of the Jews?" 10 Pilate knew that the chief priests had brought Jesus to him because they were jealous...15 Pilate wanted to please the crowd. So he set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.

It is kind of amazing that Jesus was tried, condemned and murdered in the "normal" human corruption pattern. True, the Bible tells us, as did Jesus, that His Death was both planned by God and foretold in the Old Testament. But it was accomplished through the normal political channels of the day. The normal corrupt power struggles in culture used Him as a leverage item. His Life was of no consequence to the leaders of the day, including the supposed moral leaders of the Jewish people. Same ol' crap, same ol' evil (systemic and personal), same ol' result in human terms. But this normal human corruption was used by God to perform the greatest righteousness act in history. God can and does use all things for the good of those who follow Jesus. I take great comfort and encouragement in that today. Disappointments, frustrations and mistakes - all - can be used by God for His Good, for my good, and for His Kingdom's advance. I choose to believe that is what God is doing with the disappointments and anxieties of my day and life. May His Will Be Done.

Lord Jesus - I give to You my disappointments, hurts, sorrows and mistakes. I know I will have to give them to You again, as I am not good at letting them go the first time. But I believe You are at work with these, despite these, because of these. You are my Hope and I will trust You.

(You can download the Pathway 2012 Bible reading list here.)