WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12
“taken up”
1 Timothy 3:16 ESV
JESUS CONQUERED THE PIT
A man fell into a pit and couldn’t get himself out.
A subjective person came along and said, “I feel for you down there.”
An objective person walked by and said, “It’s logical that someone would fall down there.”
A religious person said, “Only bad people fall into pits.”
A mathematician calculated how deep the pit was.
A news reporter wanted the exclusive story on the pit.
An IRS agent asked if he was paying taxes on the pit.
A self-pitying person said, “You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit.”
A fire-and-brimstone preacher said, “You deserve your pit.”
A Christian Scientist observed, “The pit is just in your mind.”
A psychologist noted, “Your mother and father are to blame for your being in that pit.”
A self-esteem Life Coach said, “Believe in yourself and you can get out of that pit.”
An optimist said, “Things could be worse.”
A pessimist claimed, “Things will get worse.”
“A follower of Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.” (Author Unknown)
When Jesus ascended, the Bible tells us that He sat down at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12). This tells us that His work of redeeming sinners was forever finished! Jesus had been to the pit of hell and back signifying that He had conquered that pit. And to be taken up to heaven and seated beside His Father was also a sign of approval and power. Now Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father and prays for us.
Pastor George Muller was asked, “What is the secret of your service to God?” Muller’s response was this: “There was a day when I died, utterly died, died to George Muller, his opinions, preferences, tastes and will…died to the world, its approval and censure…died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends…and since then I have studied to show myself approved only to God.” How would your life change if you only lived to make choices that God would approve of? In what ways do you feel Jesus has lifted you out of the pit? Pray to God about any pits that you feel stuck in now.
