Easter - 2018

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Tough Times? Or preparation for the next life?

Let’s look through the book of Matthew and see what He was willing to bear.

He was willing to bear temptation after temptation with out sinning. (Matthew 4:4-11)
He was willing to bear the fact he had no where to lay His head. (Matthew 8:20)
He was willing to bear how little faith His disciples had. (Matthew 8:26)
He was willing to bear evil thoughts against Him. (Matthew 9:3-4)
He was willing to bear insults being called a glutton, a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. (Matthew 11:19)
He was willing to bear being accused of breaking the law on a Sabbath. (Matthew 12:2)
He was willing to bear being accused of being Beelzebub after casting out demons. (Matthew 12:24)
He was willing to bear no honor from his own country and his own home. (Matthew 13:57)
He was willing to bear the fault-finding Pharisees. (Matthew 15:1-2)
He was willing to bear the slowness of His disciples in understanding. (Matthew 15:16)
He was willing to bear the great multitudes that came to Him for healing. (Matthew 15:29-31)
He was willing to bear His disciples lack of faith. (Matthew 16:8-12)
He was willing to bear Peter’s rebuke. (Matthew 16:22-23)
He was willing to bear Peter’s nonsense about building three alters when He was transfigured. (Matthew 17:4)
He was willing to bear His disciples constant questions. (Matthew 17:10)
He was willing to bear the Pharisees who came to test Him. (Matthew 19:3-6)
He was willing to bear the mother of Zebedee’s sons foolish request to have her sons sit at His right and left hand when they came into His kingdom. (Matthew 20:20-23)
He was willing to bear Peter, James and John sleeping instead of praying and watching while He prayed in the garden. (Matthew 26:36-46)
He was willing to bear false testimony against Him. (Matthew 26:59-63)
He was willing to bear being spit on and struck in the face. (Matthew 26:67)
He was willing to bear Peter’s triple denial. (Matthew 26:75)
He was willing to bear being humiliated, tortured and crucified. (Matthew 27:27-37)
He was willing to bear being blasphemed and taunted at while hanging on the cross. (Matthew 27:39-44) (Think on it devotions)

What are we willing to bear? "Lord Jesus, thank you for your patience with us. Thank you for being willing to bear what you did in order to save us from our sin and give us life with you eternally. In your name. Amen."
Romans 5:3-5, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
Bearing it together and encouraging each of us to press on! - You know I love ya - Don

2 comments:

IzzyBeth said...

Hey Don. Thanks for your words, as always!

Kids, especially the older two, are really enjoying Fiddler so far. Angelina just gets fidgety pretty quickly and gets a tad bored. BUT - she has the melody to the songs nailed. :-) Several of the other cast members have been very sweet to the kids, so I think it will be great.

Don Crane said...

awesome!