The true end and scope of life

She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Saviour], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God]. Matthew 1:21 AMP

The events of this week have again reminded our family of where our trust needs to be - in Jesus. It is His name that we call on when the tough times come. It is Jesus who truly does enable us to see our lives in the right perspective. He provides us with a way to come into the throne room of grace. The Message Bible puts it this way,

Now that we know what we have - Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God - let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. Hebrews 4: 14-16 The Message

Jesus knows the pain Victoria felt this week when she couldn't walk - the physical and the emotional pain. He knows the pain that Ken and I felt as parents, watching her suffer. He knows about your pain too. He knows.

While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God. Because he honoured God, God answered him. Though he was God's Son, he learned trusting - obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. Hebrews 5:7-9 The Message

And there is one of the big challenges - do we allow these circumstances to teach us how to trust God at a deeper level, or do we hold on to the pain and let the circumstance immobilize our faith? It can be very painful letting go of the pain, but from my experience, if we don't process and let go of the pain, we miss an opportunity to get a greater understanding of 'the true end and scope of life - which is God.'

Questions for today, do you believe that Jesus understands your pain? Do you believe that He knows about suffering? Do you believe that He, through His suffering, has given you a pathway directly to God? Do you believe that you can ask God for mercy and help? 

The truth is that Jesus does understand and you can ask for mercy and help - right now. Let's endeavour to keep focused on Jesus and not miss the true end and scope of life - which is God.

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.  Hebrews 12:2-3 AMP