Permit It To Be So…

“But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness…’” – Matthew 3:15

When Jesus came to John to be baptised, John protested, and Jesus told him to permit it to be so for now. God’s ways are not our ways, nor are our thoughts His thoughts (Is. 55:8). John the baptist understood that Jesus was God and King, and he was well aware of his own unworthiness to even carry the Lord’s shoes.  Yet, Jesus came humbly and identified Himself with our sin, allowing John to baptize Him, even though there was no sin found in Him. Jesus was and still is suffering things to be the way they are for a time so that He might fulfill ALL righteousness.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9

Jesus did not establish His Kingdom here on earth. He is establishing it in the hearts of those who believe, and are born again by the Spirit. As believers we too are invited to suffer some things to be as they are for a time. Just as the Lord has been longsuffering toward us, so we ought to be with others. Let’s not forget that longsuffering is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22)! We are not to try and fix things, or people. We are to submit to God, and laying down our agendas, ask and pray as the Lord taught us…“Thy will be done, Thy Kingdom come on earth just as it is in Heaven.” As we do, we have what we ask in Jesus name, even if we don’t yet see it! If Jesus is suffering things to be so for now, may we join in the fellowship of His sufferings, and in so doing share in His Life (Phil. 3:10-11). Don’t lose heart, keep praying, it matters more than you know!

Let’s pray…

Lord Jesus, I know that You have overcome the world. That walking with You is a matter of faith, and not sight. Help us not to fall into the temptation to fix the world around us, but instead to look with the eyes of faith and intercede. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, in the powerful name of Jesus, amen.