Read John 18:10-14. Do Hard Things.
When the 200-600 soldiers, along with the Jewish leaders, came to arrest Jesus, verse 10 says, “Then Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck a high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear.” Jesus commanded Peter to put his sword away because he knew what he had to do. He had to do God’s will which was to be crucified for the sins of the world.
Jesus was then arrested and they bound him and took him to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas the high priest.
200 to 600 soldiers come to arrest Jesus and he doesn’t run away. He doesn’t flee to another region. Why? Because he had to do God’s will of dying for the sins of the world. He was about to willingly give up his life for us. That’s love! But doing this loving act is hard. There was nothing easy about it. Doing hard things for God isn’t often easy. When we are challenged to do something for the Lord, what do we do? Do we run and flee? Or do we face head on the very thing God is calling us to? Are we willing to make the necessary sacrifice needed? Are you willing to step outside of your comfort zone and trust God to take care of you?
Look at what Jesus willingly did in order to make available the forgiveness of sin. That’s huge?? Where is God calling you? What hard thing is he asking of you? What is your comfort zone? Don’t let fear keep you and others from experiencing what blessing God wants to do in and through your life. Let the Holy Spirit empower you for the hard thing he is asking of you.
What would be a hard thing for you to do for Jesus? For me, I’d say giving up a body part for somebody else would be hard.
