Sunday, April 27, 2014

INNOCENT BYSTANDER


Luke 23:26

“As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside.  The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.”

Have you ever been thrust into the middle of God’s work when you just “happened” to be there?  Don’t believe it!  We never just “happen” to be where God is accomplishing great things.  God tenderly, deliberately, and strategically places me exactly where He wants me.  He knows exactly what I’m capable of when I pick up my end of the yoke.

Simon of Cyrene didn’t just “happen” to be walking the same Jerusalem stones as Jesus that day.  Nothing in all of creation ever “just happens”.  No, God brought him that day to carry the Lord’s cross to His execution.  He chose Simon and planned the timing perfectly so that Simon would be crossing paths with those Roman soldiers at exactly the right moment.

Not only can I be assured that God’s plan for Jesus was perfect, but that His plan for Simon on that day was perfect.  I expect to see Simon of Cyrene in heaven some day; how could he possibly have carried Messiah’s cross to Golgotha and NOT made a decision to follow Him the rest of his life?

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