| There come times in our Christian lives when we must proceed with godly determination. Some unpleasant duty faces us, some task must be performed, and we feel that we are not fitted for it. Some word needs to be spoken, and we find ourselves reluctant to do it. At such times, regardless of our feeling and fears, we must move forward. Paul, with his heart heavy because of the carnality of the Corinthian believers, “determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” Later he wrote to them that “I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.” Having determined these things in his heart, he proceeded to fulfill them. It is recorded of our blessed Lord that, “when the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.” We hear Him speaking prophetically, through Isaiah, saying, “The Lord God will help Me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set My face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” May we who know Him determine to do His will. “I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” |
