17 April - For The Joy

Today, worldwide, people are celebrating Easter and that Jesus is risen.

One of the things many people contemplate at Easter is what Jesus went through for us and that he knowingly endured such cruelty in being crucified. Yet the amazing thing to me is that He says it was for the joy set before him that he endured such a death. (Hebrews 12:2)

The joy was that Jesus knew he would rise again, overcoming sin and death once and for all. The joy was also that on acceptance of his gift of salvation, we would no longer be slaves to sin and death but free to have a relationship with Him with no more separation because sin was dealt with through Jesus' ultimate sacrifice on the Cross.

For the joy of knowing you and seeing you healed, delivered, and restored, Jesus set the Cross before him and gave it His all.

It makes me wonder how often we set the joy before us of who we are and what we are called to do and become? Do we determine to keep walking with Jesus and his purposes rather than giving up, stepping back, or walking away? For the joy of knowing him and fulfilling his will, do we keep going even when faced with difficulties as Jesus did?

Today consider how Jesus endured the Cross for the joy of being able to know you as a friend and to see you healed, whole, and walking in freedom and abundant, overflowing life. He thinks you are worth the sacrifice, so shouldn't you go and live life knowing you and all that you do are are are worth it too.

For the joy of you, Jesus did it all.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for all you have done for me and that you think I am worth dying for. For the joy of me, you went through so much; please help me remember how much I am worth to you as I live out my day today.