Matthew 11:6
Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.
I was reading The Barbarian Way and what McManus said about this verse really struck me. So many times I read the word but I don't really take the time to disect it and look for much of the meaning. I'm thankful that there are people out there who seem to have a natural talent for understanding the Bible so I can better understand some of it. I've heard Matthew 11:6 before but I never really thought about what it meant.
It was the last thing Jesus said in response to John's question of "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" At that time John was in prison where he would eventually be beheaded. After John sends his disciples to ask Jesus that question, Jesus replied in verses 4-6, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
That last sentence almost seems out of place after Jesus describes all the good that he is doing. Why would anyone fall away on account of Jesus after hearing about all the incredible things he is doing; all the people he is helping. If you look at it from John's perspective, though, it makes sense. John hears about all these amazing things Jesus is doing but Jesus isn't coming to save him from his prison. Even though John was the one who would prepare the way for Jesus, he wouldn't be saved from being beheaded. It seems that it would be easy for John to "fall away" because of this. Easy for him to become angry at the fact that his fate is death. But God's plan for John is being fulfilled.
It seems like the verse could also say, blessed is the man who does not fall away even though the purpose I have for him isn't one that he desires. When times are rough and we aren't happy with what is happening in our life it's easy for us to become upset, fall away, or lose faith in God. But these things we're going through - these struggles - may very well be in God's plan for us. God could be using these things to shape us into the person He wants us to be. Don't fall away when life gets difficult but "rejoice in suffering" and "give thanks in all circumstances" because it's these things as well as the good that makes each of us who we are.
1 comment:
Inspiring, especially coming from the one who wrote it. I like it, keep them coming!
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