Sunday, 6th April 2025
Andrews Ampomah
TOPIC: Mission Bound: The Road to Redemption
THEME SCRIPTURE: “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem” – Luke 9:51
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:
1. What have you resolved to achieve in your Christian journey this year?
Everything in all of God’s creation exists for a specific purpose and contributes to a greater divine plan (Proverbs 16:4, Romans 11:36). Kingdoms, nations, communities, and organizations are established with the sole aim of fulfilling a mission. From Adam until now, not a single human being has been born without a God-ordained purpose (Jeremiah 1:5). The cycle of end-of-year reviews and New Year's resolutions has become a part of us, ensuring that we become better each year and more successful in achieving our yearly goals. Mobilizing and ensuring that everything one does goes into fulfilling a curated or identified mission without deviating is the most difficult part.
Jesus took on flesh and dwelt among fallen man (John 1:1-2 and verse 14) with the single most important purpose of sacrificially enduring a painful and agonizing death on the cross in place of sinful men (Isaiah 53:5-18).
Luke tells us that “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem.”
These days refers to God's appointed time, predetermined by the Father, for His only begotten Son to undergo suffering and be sacrificed for the redemption of sinners.
The phrase "to be taken up" refers to Jesus' crucifixion on the cross, His subsequent resurrection from the grave, and His eventual ascension to the Father's right hand. As this destined time approached, Jesus, recognizing the significance of His journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, where He was to suffer and be crucified, set His face towards Jerusalem (to fulfill His purpose).
He brought everything in him to bear in fulfilling the singular most important objective of His life on earth, undeterred by any obstacle. He despised the shame and scorn, determined to endure the cross (Hebrews 12:2).
Dearly beloved in Christ, during this Lenten season, it is important to know that there are so many distractions the world throws at us on this Christian journey. The world is difficult and particularly for the Christian who does not want to compromise. The only means by which we will be successful is to consistently look to Jesus, immerse ourselves in His word, and resolve to be uncompromising wherever we find ourselves. In looking to Jesus, we are supposed to abandon every weight, every sin that easily clings to us, and set our face, like Christ Jesus did, to run the Christian race with endurance. “Do you not know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. -(1 Corinthians 9:24) ” God bless you as you resolve to run that you may obtain. Amen.
FURTHER READING – Luke 9
Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- What are the things that are distracting you from running the Christian race faithfully? Commit them to prayer and ask God to help you.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, by Your Holy Spirit, help me to abandon the weights and the sins that are so close, and grant me the grace to run the Christian race in all holiness and in an uncompromising manner to Your glory and praise alone, in Christ Jesus, Amen.
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Deuteronomy 15-17; Psalm 96; Acts 6
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