No Detour from Calvary

[ronscarpa]

No Detour from Calvary

 

Our WORD for Saturday, 12/06/2014

 

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

 (

Luke 2:6–7

)

 

Now you would think that if God so rules the world as to use an empire-wide census to bring Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, he surely could have seen to it that a room was available in the inn.

Yes, he could have. And Jesus could have been born into a wealthy family. He could have turned stone into bread in the wilderness. He could have called 10,000 angels to his aid in Gethsemane. He could have come down from the cross and saved himself. The question is not what God could do, but what he willed to do.

God’s will was that though Christ was rich, yet for your sake he became poor. The “No Vacancy” signs over all the motels in Bethlehem were for your sake. “For your sake he became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

God rules all things — even motel capacities — for the sake of his children. The Calvary road begins with a “No Vacancy” sign in Bethlehem and ends with the spitting and scoffing of the cross in Jerusalem.

And we must not forget that he said, “He who would come after me must deny himself and take up his cross.”

We join him on the Calvary road and hear him say, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you” (John 15:20).

To the one who calls out enthusiastically, “I will follow you wherever you go!” Jesus responds, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 

Yes, God could have seen to it that Jesus have a room at his birth. But that would have been a detour off the Calvary road.

 

[Deborah Layne]

A very timely Word, Mr. Scarpa. Thank you for it.

I needed to be a servant, positionally, before I could receive the loving rebuke that I am no greater than my master. Those less headstrong and willful than me won't find it as hard a lesson.

Thank you for sharing here, sir.

[Deborah Layne]

You who has "negatived" this, I would ask that in exchange for receiving your covert disapproval, you stop what you're doing, go to a mirror, look yourself in the eye and say "I am not sludge, and I am not related to an ape. God exists, because only fools claim he does not and I am not a fool. And God loves me"

[boosterbglee]

Thank you Ron and Deborah, my friend,  God DOES Love you!!   

[ronscarpa]

A very timely Word, Mr. Scarpa. Thank you for it.

I needed to be a servant, positionally, before I could receive the loving rebuke that I am no greater than my master. Those less headstrong and willful than me won't find it as hard a lesson.

Thank you for sharing here, sir.

My Pleasure, bless you..(+1)

 

You who has "negatived" this, I would ask that in exchange for receiving your covert disapproval, you stop what you're doing, go to a mirror, look yourself in the eye and say "I am not sludge, and I am not related to an ape. God exists, because only fools claim he does not and I am not a fool. And God loves me"

Right-On Deb...(+1)

 

Thank you Ron and Deborah, my friend,  God DOES Love you!!   

Blessings BB..(+1)

[Thriver]

Thanks Ron for sharing this precious word! I'm so thankful for the sacrifice given on the cross. Praise God!!!

[tkeaton]

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!

[Nadita]

Ron

 

Thank you  When I signed up, He put me in the narrow path that there is no detour in that path, unless I want to jump the trail and I am not planning to

[Joe Sutherland]

Good morning Ron, thanks for sharing these thoughts with us this morning. It's amazing that all along the Calvary road, Jesus is put under pressure or squeezed, so to speak, by situations and circumstances... but mostly by people.

What happens when you squeeze an orange? You get orange juice.

Under the pressures of the Calvary road nothing but the heart of the Father flows out of our Savior. Love, compassion, and grace, just to list a few. It's like the love of God is put on display every time Jesus is squeezed. The Cross would be the grand finale,... "Father forgive them for they don't know what they are doing".

What do I do when I get squeezed? As a believer, what comes out of me when I met opposition on the Calvary road?

This is when the world has another chance to see Jesus on display, or will they even see Him at all?

Thanks again Ron.

[ronscarpa]

Good morning Ron, thanks for sharing these thoughts with us this morning. It's amazing that all along the Calvary road, Jesus is put under pressure or squeezed, so to speak, by situations and circumstances... but mostly by people.

What happens when you squeeze an orange? You get orange juice.

Under the pressures of the Calvary road nothing but the heart of the Father flows out of our Savior. Love, compassion, and grace, just to list a few. It's like the love of God is put on display every time Jesus is squeezed. The Cross would be the grand finale,... "Father forgive them for they don't know what they are doing".

What do I do when I get squeezed? As a believer, what comes out of me when I met opposition on the Calvary road?

This is when the world has another chance to see Jesus on display, or will they even see Him at all?

Thanks again Ron.

Very well said Joe...thank you for sharing..(+1) ... Many blessings - RON   

[moose 57]

Thanks Ron,

 

   Have read this more than once.

Letting it sink in.    TY