Something to Look Forward To

John 13:3 “Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God.” ~CSB

Working hard every day, enduring hard times or struggling during different seasons has its challenges. Even those of us that have jobs we love, get to a point where we get tired and just ‘don’t feel like it.’  But most of us that struggle through a rough time, accomplish this because we grab onto something we can look forward to.

For me, its my family.  At the end of the day, I know I’ll be home with them.  It doesn’t matter if I have seven more hours of hard work ahead of me, I know the day won’t come to an end until I see my family again.  It is harder to face the challenges of hard work, working out or even learning to discipline ourselves to overcome an addiction or bad habit, without something to look forward to.

So here is some good news for those of us that feel they have nothing to look forward to. God has prepared a place for you through His Son.  How about that! God has given us all something to look forward to!

In the text Jesus is about to wash His disciples’ feet. One of the lowest jobs of that time. But there was a lesson in the actions of our Savior and that is the lesson of a servant.  When you find yourself in a position where you don’t want to be, understand that God is about to reveal Himself to someone around you in the midst of your struggle. A lesson He will teach through your actions in humility. 

In verse one it says that “…Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world…” Out of everything that was going on around Him, Jesus knew that the Father had given Him everything He needed.  Just like the Father has given us everything we need to endure in the world.  Everything we need to live out our purpose for the Father in this world.

So work hard knowing that God has given you the power to overcome.  Conquer that addiction and bad habit knowing that God has a prize waiting for you at the finish line.  Submit to the love of your brother and sister in forgiveness despite the devil telling you not to.  God has forgiven us and allowed us a chance to be with Him in paradise as a result of all our hard work in our discipline. 

Just as Jesus knew the Father had given Him everything, He wants us to know that we have the same opportunities.  We have, “…come from God…” and we are “…going back to God…”

May the Lord bless you with His peace and guard your heart and mind in His Son Jesus’ precious name.

Amen

Blessings, 
​Billy

---