Friday, April 8
Keep Walking
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:13-14
I can’t imagine how Jesus put one foot in front of the other as the Passover approached. Sure, Palm Sunday was a joyous time with the crowds chanting and cheering as He entered the city, but Jesus knew what lay ahead. He kept walking – one foot in front of the other. He knew the disciples were struggling with what the kingdom of God would be. The people dreamed for a king to rid them of Roman rule. Their king would end up crucified by the end of the week – a king that knew His fate. He kept walking – one foot in front of the other. But that last week, Jesus had work to do. He cleansed the temple, he taught, he ate a final meal with His disciples. He kept putting one foot in front of the other.
I, like Jesus, have work to do. Though I don’t know what the end of the week will bring, I do ultimately know my fate. The wages of sin is death, and I am a sinner. That can’t stop me from serving where God leads – one foot in front of the other. There is temptation to look back on past struggles and wallow. Wallow like a pig in mud, enjoying the moment, reveling in past disappointments. Jesus doesn’t tell a parable about a pig wallowing in mud, but if he did, I suspect the pig who wallowed missed the bridegroom or its lamp went dim or it was easy prey for the robbers. The pig lost an opportunity to do something amazing. Jesus knew that by returning to Jerusalem he was going to do something amazing. He was going to suffer and die. He was going to give salvation to His people. He just needed to put one foot in front of the other. I need to be reminded that Jesus wants us to be amazing, simply amazing. He wants us to wipe off the mud and start walking – one foot in front of the other. Simple is the key. Jesus didn’t ride into Jerusalem on a golden chariot pulled by a team of horses. He rode a simple donkey. My challenge, our challenge, is to be simply amazing – serving others, sharing a smile, providing a meal, loving ourselves. The list is amazingly endless. All we have to do is start walking – one foot in front of the other.
Dear God, thank you for Your love which drove you to send Jesus to be our salvation. Remind us that you want us to share that salvation with others in amazingly simple ways. Amen.
Susan Lambert