Love Always Perseveres (1)
Scripture Reading — 1 Cor. 13:7d; Matthew 11:1-6
Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.
John the Baptist was called by God to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus Christ into this world. He spoke of himself as one who merely prepared the way for the coming Savior (see Matthew 3:11).
In this story John is in prison for speaking the truth to Herod (see Mark 6:14-29).John believed that very soon the kingdom of God would come in all its glory and splendor. But from his prison cell John observes that the new order is not being established as as quickly as he had expected. So he sends his disciples to Jesus with this troubling question: “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else.”
Jesus reassures John that he is the one who is to come by commanding his disciples to “go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk …” There is powerful evidence that God’s kingdom has indeed broken into this world. Then Jesus goes on to say, “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
In other words, blessed are those who do not abandon their faith in Jesus because he is not establishing the new order as fully and as quickly as they would like.
God’s love enables us to endure, to persevere, to “hang in there” with him until he fulfills all his promises.
Father, thank you for the glimpses I do see everyday of the coming of your kingdom. Increase your love in me that I may persevere until your kingdom comes fully. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
About the author — Richard E. Williams
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!