This Lent:Not Blinded by the Immediate

"We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God"-Hebrews 12:6 God's Word Translation

Yesterday a friend of mine came to pick her daughter from my place . I offered her some food that I had prepared but she declined saying that she had the urge to eat pancakes which she intended to make when she got home,Although she loved what I had prepared, she knew that if she did take my offer,she would  not be able to enjoy  her pancakes. Jokingly but persuasively, I told her that her  craving for pancake  was a little bit late as  the day before was pancake Tuesday.As you know,  yesterday was Ash Wednesday which marks 40 days before Easter.  She finally gave in but stopped halfway sticking to her original decision. I woke up this morning and thought about how my friend practised the law of delayed gratification to an extent yesterday.We however see this exhibited completely  in the life of Jesus as we begin to prepare for Easter.

 He very much could have given in to the devils' temptation of collecting the whole world without going to the cross .That was the short cut that was presented to him during his temptations(Matthew 4:1-11) .But Jesus was not dissuaded, he did not come to do his will but his Fathers' and he knew that the cross was part of the whole package.The cost was self-denial which he painfully did..How so much like Joseph who is deemed by any scholars to be a prototype of  Christ. He also as a full-blooded young man refused the advances of the wife of his master, Mrs Potiphar(Genesis 39:1-29). No one would have known about it and probably he may have had some  kind of backyard favour now,serving as a sexual partner for Mrs.Potiphar. but he vehemently  refused all this.He had a dream(Genesis 37:5-11) and knew that God was able to establish him without compromise.It is not always that the option we have is bad,sometimes it may be  good but as is often said,the "good" can sometimes be the enemy of "better".

As we begin this Lent, let us remember  Jesus as an example of complete delayed gratification. Perhaps this season could serve as one that will enable us put things/people in our life  in the proper perspective,We would need to ask ourselves on a continuous basis   how an activity  contributes to our overall purpose.Just as the cross meant self denial to Jesus then, he still demands a daily life of  self denial of his followers(Luke 9:23).He had the Cross before him and the salvation of man was dear to his heart.Every other thing was looked through the lens of his purpose.He was not blinded by the immediate  rather had his driving passion and   purpose to do  the Father's will.
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It is my prayer that in this Lent season ,we will be moire aligned to the Father's will.

In His Service ,
Grace Tom-Lawyer