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How many of us set goals to be healthier every year? Some might be okay with just making healthier choices at meals, drinking more water, or adding a little exercise in each day. But then there are those that are all in. These are the people that will see real results.
They are determined. They envision reaching that goal and they set their mind toward the road to get there. They know it will be hard, grueling at times, and they may even want to give up, but in the end, they know it will be worth it.
Watching shows like ‘The Biggest Loser’ or others that show total transformations, you see the emotions on their faces as the recount their story of weight loss. Every one of them say that even though it was the hardest thing they have ever done, they would do it again in a heartbeat.
It was worth it.
Luke 9:51
“And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,”
Jesus knew.
He knew the time had come for Him to make the journey home. Not to Nazareth with His earthly parents, but to Heaven, His rightful place with God the Father.
He knew what this journey would entail. He could see in His mind the cross waiting for Him. He knew many of these same people following Him would reject Him and turn against Him. He knew He would be betrayed by one of His closest friends. He knew He would be arrested, accused, beaten, ridiculed, and mocked. He knew He would be crucified, the most painful and public way to die.
He knew.
And yet, He set His face towards Jerusalem.
He chose it anyway.
Isaiah 53:3-5
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Why?
Why would anyone choose to do that? Why would He not turn and run the other way? Why would He purposefully go towards something so horrific?
Because YOU were worth it.
John 3:16-17
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
He Loves YOU!
John 13:34
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
1 John 4:9-11
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
Romans 5:8
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus set His face towards death for you.
Have you accepted Him as your Savior to forgive you for your sins? Have you received that beautiful and precious gift?
And if you have, He has called you to something more. More than just a life filled with meeting our own desires. He’s called us to follow Him. Learn the truth from His word, live it out daily, and teach others to do the same.
Ezra 7:10
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”
Have you set your face towards that? Have you made up your mind to follow Christ?
I promise, He’s worth it.
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