It is Not Coincidental

Jesus hung on the cross, two others beside him.

It was nearing sunset, which marked the beginning of the Sabbath. No bodies were to be left on a cross during the Sabbath. Their deaths must be quickened. So on that Friday, the day of crucifixion, the legs of those crucified men were to be broken. This was typical. A means to hasten death.

The soldiers broke the legs of the first man. Then the
second. But not those of Jesus. Jesus was already dead. Instead, the soldier pierced His side. Blood from His heart and water from within Him flowed from that pierced side.

Little did the soldiers know their actions fulfilled the Scriptures that had been prophesied so long before: Not one of his bones will be broken and They will look on the one they have pierced.

Nothing was coincidental in Jesus’ journey. And nothing is coincidental in our lives, His chosen.

God says He will use whatever He chooses to fulfill His purpose. He says His purpose will stand:

“I say, ‘My purpose will stand,

and I will do all that I please.’

From the east I summon a bird of prey;

from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.

What I have said, that I will bring about;

what I have planned, . . . “

I hear those words – “My purpose will stand.” Do you? They are spoken with authority. With confidence. I recognize His voice. Do you? It is the voice that stops me in my path of selfishness and of stubbornness and leads me to the path of trust.

“My purpose will stand,” our Lord says.

These words follow others (Isaiah 44:2-4) with which I am familiar, with which I am often comforted and confirmed and convinced:

“I will go before you and will level the mountains,

I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron

I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor,

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

I am God, and there is no other.

I make known the end from the beginning.”

I am assured – nothing is coincidental in my journey with Jesus. Nothing. I can trust Him and I can trust in His purpose.

I summon a bird . . . a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do. Listen to me . . .

He works in me and He works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. When we belong to the Father, nothing in our lives is coincidental, He works for us, and His purpose for us is good. Wow!

In reflection,

Kathi

Click here to read the next post in this series during Lent: “Take it personal – His purpose.”

Click here to read the first post in this series, Lent. This Time of Reflection. A link at the end of each leads to the next post.

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