Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Hebrews 12:3 NKJV.

Though He was God’s Son, He learned trusting-obedience by what He suffered, just as we do. Hebrews 5:8 MSG.

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33.

I think the last verse cited above held more meaning for me this morning. In Me…you may have peace. In this world we have pain and trouble because we choose pain and the trouble that results. In Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, is my peace, my hope and my strength. But I need to keep turning to Him when I am overwhelmed. I can’t read our chapter, Hosea 13, without seeing us today. We may not kiss calf-idols, but idols we have. When Ephraim spoke, people trembled; he was exalted in Israel. But he became guilty of Baal worship and died. Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, “They offer human sacrifices! They kiss calf-idols!” Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window…”You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against Me, against your Helper. Where is your king, that he may save you? Where are your rulers in all your towns, of whom you said, ‘Give me a king and princes’? So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away. The guilt of Ephraim is stored up, his sins are kept on record. Pains as of a woman in childbirth come to him, but he is a child without wisdom; when the time arrives, he doesn’t have the sense to come out of the womb.” v. 1-3, 9-13. Do we even know God if we think humans or we, ourselves, can save us? Do we think this present life is all there is, that we squander opportunities to choose Life with God? “But I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but Me, no Savior except Me…I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?” v. 4, 14.

I keep seeing Jesus’ life lived here on earth, culminating in the week before His death and crucifixion. What He did in overcoming the world is such a stark contrast with what the world did to Him by its choices. And over two thousand years later, we still choose choices that bring great pain to ourselves and others. And we can’t see that the very pains we choose over and over and over again are the very choices nailing Him to the Cross. He knew. Every choice in every age. What will it take for us to see those choices for what they are and be appalled and recoil in sorrow? It will take Almighty Creator God. Life with God’s healing love…or a living Death without Him. Our choice always. But we have this hope that is sure. Our Creator God will deliver us from the power of the grave and redeem us from a life of death. Sometimes we need to go to the end of the chapter so we can remember…And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4. So for now, for today in a world fraught with choices leading to great pain…“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He overcame it…and He will bring His healing Love!