Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Matthew 11:26, ” Even so, Father, for this was well-pleasing in your sight. ” 

Background

Have you had to make any tough choices lately? I’m not talking about trying to decide where to eat for dinner, or which game to watch on television. I’m talking about the kinds of choices where someone will benefit and be very pleased, while someone else is very likely to be unhappy or suffer because of the outcome. The sort of choice that can tie your stomach in knots and rob you of your sleep. Those kinds of choices are not the ones we look forward to making. In fact, many of us go to great lengths to avoid those situations and deeply hope that they will simply work themselves out on their own. I think Jesus was talking about these types of scenarios in this part of Matthew. He mentioned several cities who were witnesses to His preaching and miracles, but they responded with indifference, refusing to repent. Then He thanked His Father for choosing to hide His message from some and reveal it to others. It’s a strange sequence to me, warning of the terrible judgment to come, and then thanking God for how His grace will spare some and not others. 

Application

I rather think that there wasn’t much joy in Christ’s heart when He thanked Him, and acknowledged that it was well-pleasing to God for His will to be carried out this way. It’s a hard truth to allow that God was pleased to choose some, rather than all. And it’s just as hard to fathom God plotting the course of events while letting us somehow work things out on our own. For clearly the choices we make are our own, but all the while God’s will is done, and some choose and some don’t. But my Lord has told me to give thanks in all things. And if Jesus can look out over the crowd of people, many of whom will deny Him to the last and spend their eternity in hell, and thank God in that, then I must do the same. I might not like it, but I must obey it. But perhaps, as I obey God, my heart will move me to help someone not make the wrong choice. Perhaps I will share Jesus with someone, for I know this is pleasing in His sight. 

Charge

As we seek Him today, share with God how walking by faith can be difficult at times. Ask Him to use you to do whatever is well-pleasing in His sight. And thank Him endlessly for His unfathomable grace. 

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words