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Scripture for the day: Hebrews 2:8-11 “You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that he, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brethren.
Thought for the day: There is a statement in Romans that is mind boggling to me. The apostle Paul says, “For we know that He works all things together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.” In the grand scheme of things I suppose there’s some merit to that statement, but I look around me and don’t see a tremendous amount of good in so many circumstances, it becomes difficult to hold on to that hope.
Call me cynical, call me jaded, tell me I’ve lost my faith, but when I read in the newspaper about two young people who drove off the road, hit a tree and were killed instantly, I have trouble seeing where the good is in that. I recall sitting in my living room as my daughter brings the news that her husband, my son-in-law and best friend, was killed in an auto accident on the way home from church, and I fail to see the good in that. People are tortured and killed every day for their faith and I see nothing positive in their deaths. School shootings, senseless violence, ideological fanaticism, racism, and on and on goes the list. Where is the good in that? Or to bring the whole question more fittingly into the realm of today’s scripture; where do we see Jesus in that?
The honest answer is simply this: we don’t. Jesus is not in people getting so intoxicated that they can’t handle a car and end up off the road and dead. He’s not in the accident that takes an innocent life. And he’s certainly not in all the meaningless or ideological wars and rumors of wars scattered all about our world.
OK, now that I’ve completely demoralized the majority of you, let’s put this all back in perspective, shall we? We don’t see the good in all the evil things happening in our world. We often don’t see all things working out for good to those who love the Lord. “But we see Jesus.” Oh, and that’s the key, isn’t it? The Psalmist tells us the Lord God has put Jesus “a little lower than the angels” and has given him power and dominion over every created thing. The writer to the Hebrews quotes Psalm 8 in describing our Savior and reminds us that God has “put all things in subjection under his feet.” And though my finite vision cannot often see the truth of this statement, above it all I can look and see Jesus.
We see Jesus, taking on the likeness of his creation, lying in a manger, helpless as we.
We see Jesus, preaching and teaching in the synagogues and in the Temple, calling all mankind to his side.
We see Jesus, mingling with the humblest segments of society, the “sinners and publicans” as a gentle reminder that there are none beneath his compassion.
We see Jesus praying alone in a garden, surrendering to the will of the Father, knowing the agony and humiliation he will endure before that will is accomplished.
We see Jesus, beaten, ridiculed, whipped and nailed to a cruel Roman cross, lifted up from the earth to hang there between heaven and hell.
We see Jesus, risen from the grave “with healing in his wings;” conqueror of sin and death and hell itself.
We see Jesus, sitting at the right hand of the Father and interceding for each and every one of us individually and all of us collectively.
We see Jesus, eyes full of loving compassion, beckoning to us: “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” “Come to me all you who are losing the battle of faith, who have been drained of the hope you once held to so firmly, and I will give you strength for today and will return your hope of tomorrow.
We see Jesus, high and lifted up, given “all authority in heaven and in earth,” waiting for the last word from the Father – “Enough! Go and bring my people home.”
We see Jesus.
Now go take on your world. - Bill