Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
“The prayers of all saints” arise “before the throne” of God (Revelation 8:3-4). Included, most blessedly, are our prayers for forgiveness. In II Samuel 24, we find the account of David numbering the people of Israel. A census of God’s people was not inherently wrong, for God Himself decreed one during the time of the Exodus from slavery in Egypt (Numbers 1:1-54). However, David’s numbering was “provoked” by Satan (I Chronicles 21:1). His sin was placing his faith in his military strength rather than in his God. Later, David would write, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” He could write so confidently because he was forgiven after he had prayed: “And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech Thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Thy servant; for I have done very foolishly’” (II Samuel 24:10). Our Savior God listens to our prayers intently, and He forgives us with the same intensity.