Morning by Morning, April 14 - The Cross of Jesus: Calculated Evil, but Predestined for Good
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Looking to You, I listen for Your leading to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...
“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He said to His disciples, ‘You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’
“Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and they conspired to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill Him. But they said, ‘Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people’” (Matthew 26:1-5).
The religious leaders--jealous, afraid, and intimidated by Your presence and power among the people--conspired to arrest You and kill You. Moved by a spirit directing their thoughts and passions and decisions, they planned out their timing in calculated evil. But they didn’t know their calculated evil was also predestined for good--for the greatest good and most powerful event of human history in Your crucifixion and resurrection.
“None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8).
Though their choices were real and their decisions were evil, You’ve always know every choice that would ever be made and every evil decision that would ever be acted out. In the power of Your sovereignty and the wisdom of heaven, You would turn their evil into Your good, like You always do (Genesis 50:20). You would redeem their actions and cause all things--even evil things--to “work together for good for those who love (You), who are called according to (Your) purpose” (Romans 8:28).
They thought they caused You to be put to death on a cross, but You had already tried to tell them of the sovereign plans of God through Your life and death and resurrection. You said You came to willingly lay down Your life for us (John 10:15), that we could be forgiven and free through Your Sacrifice of Love for all who would put their faith in You (John 3:16). You told them:
“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father” (John 10:17-18).
By Your own accord, You turned their calculated evil into Your predestined good. And in the fulfillment of time and the sovereignty of Your will, Your good will always overcome evil (Romans 12:21). Your plans for our good will always overcome the world’s plans for evil (John 16:33). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be encouraged and confident that our God will always cause His good to triumph over evil, just as He did through the Cross of Jesus, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Messiah Ministries Mailing Address:
412 S. Adams Street #148
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
Please share this word to encourage a friend!
Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:
