Aug 14

There was a reason why the infinite power of God was not used as Jesus stood before Pilate. That reason -- or, at least, one of the reasons -- was given by Jesus himself only hours earlier, in the Garden of Gethsemane, when his enemies came to arrest him. Then it was that one of Jesus' disciples raised his sword to try to stop what was taking place.

But Jesus rebuked this disciple. "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?" (Mt. 26:53, 54).

Scripture reveals part of God's eternal plan for people and events before those events happen. God's Word is truth (John 17:17). All the details may not be there, but if Scripture says something must take place, then it will take place. It was true in the Garden of Gethsemane; it must be true as Jesus stands before Pilate.

Acts 4:26-29 quotes a Psalm of the Old Testament, written hundreds of years before its prediction came to pass in the reality of Jesus standing before Pilate. It describes reality that does not alter itself even if a Roman ruler cannot see that reality.

Scripture for today: Acts 4:26-29
Thought for today: Reality is eternal.
Prayer for today: Lord, help me to be like Jesus, not to try to escape a painful part of reality that involves me, but to so love you and your Word that I will be willing to fulfill what you have written for me from all eternity.

AUG 14