January 25
Matthew 16:13-17:9
In college one of my roommates, a nonbeliever, asked “Why does God let bad things happen to good people? If He has a plan, why does He let bad things happen to his ‘beloved’ children?” Before I realized what I was saying, I responded, “There is no such thing as a good person aside from Jesus. Jesus was perfect and He was killed in the most brutal way imaginable. Every person, no matter how ‘good’ they may seem, is sinful. Life on Earth is just a blip on the screen of eternity, and no matter how terrible and monumental life can feel now, God’s plan is perfect and more intricate than we can imagine.” That conversation was not that much different than Jesus’ with Peter.
Peter, in his concern for Jesus’s wellbeing, spoke against the plan Jesus had laid forth that would lead to His crucifixion. In blunt, honest words Jesus points out that we as humans are unable to fully grasp the will of God. As such, it is arrogant and foolish to assume that we know better. Like Peter, we often rebuke situations that seem as if “bad things are happening to good people.” In reality, it was God’s will that his own perfect and blameless son would be brutally sacrificed for our sins. As followers of Jesus, we need to readjust our attitudes and humble ourselves in the face of God’s perfect will. Let us not question His will; instead submit in reverence of his goodness.
Lord, help me to submit to your will and humble myself in light of my finite knowledge and your infinite faithfulness. Amen.
Are you placing your own plans above God’s will and/or questioning His motives? How can you practice humility in the face of God’s perfect will?
In college one of my roommates, a nonbeliever, asked “Why does God let bad things happen to good people? If He has a plan, why does He let bad things happen to his ‘beloved’ children?” Before I realized what I was saying, I responded, “There is no such thing as a good person aside from Jesus. Jesus was perfect and He was killed in the most brutal way imaginable. Every person, no matter how ‘good’ they may seem, is sinful. Life on Earth is just a blip on the screen of eternity, and no matter how terrible and monumental life can feel now, God’s plan is perfect and more intricate than we can imagine.” That conversation was not that much different than Jesus’ with Peter.
Peter, in his concern for Jesus’s wellbeing, spoke against the plan Jesus had laid forth that would lead to His crucifixion. In blunt, honest words Jesus points out that we as humans are unable to fully grasp the will of God. As such, it is arrogant and foolish to assume that we know better. Like Peter, we often rebuke situations that seem as if “bad things are happening to good people.” In reality, it was God’s will that his own perfect and blameless son would be brutally sacrificed for our sins. As followers of Jesus, we need to readjust our attitudes and humble ourselves in the face of God’s perfect will. Let us not question His will; instead submit in reverence of his goodness.
Lord, help me to submit to your will and humble myself in light of my finite knowledge and your infinite faithfulness. Amen.
Are you placing your own plans above God’s will and/or questioning His motives? How can you practice humility in the face of God’s perfect will?
Recent
Archive
2026
2025
January
January 1January 2January 3January 4January 5January 6January 7January 8January 9January 10January 11January 12January 13January 14January 15January 16January 17January 18January 19January 20January 21January 22January 23January 24January 25January 26January 27January 28January 29January 30January 31
February
Categories
no categories
No Comments