I have a deep affinity with rooftops in Asia. The Lord and I have such sweet communion on those spaces. I love the spiritual perspective I glean from my physically higher vantage point.
Here in southern India this past month, I spent hours with my Father on the rooftop of the building half of my squad called home. One morning, I had the phrase “for the joy that was set before Him” on my heart, and I knew it was scripture, but I couldn’t recall just where.
Then, He brought it to me:
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2, emphasis mine)
On that roof, as the day dawned, looking across dozens and dozens of rows of buildings, homes, business and otherwise, I dialogued with the Lord about this scripture.
What was the joy set before you, Jesus? The joy that made the cross worth it. Our yes to You? Our redemption?
Even this, to me, holds such sweetness.
But the Lord gently corrected me and gave a deeper understanding:
The joy set before Him was not our “yes” to Him, but the potential of the “yes.” Even without surety of us choosing Him, He found enough worth in the potential of our “yes,” that He endured the cross. And not merely bearing it, but calling our potential yes, our potential reciprocation of His love, THE JOY.
On that roof, as the morning continued to brighten, looking across dozens and dozens of rows of buildings, homes, business and otherwise, constantly releasing and receiving people from the maze of roads, I wept with humility and gratitude over this scripture.
I couldn’t even count all of the people I saw as I spent my early morning on that rooftop. So many people.
Each person holding a beautiful heart.
Each heart bearing the potential of a “yes” to the love of Christ.
This potential being what made the cross not only worth it, but a joy to endure.
India, you are the joy set before King Jesus that makes it all worth it.
I perpetually commit to seeing even the potential of received love worth a complete outpouring of my heart.
Because my potential yes, beautifully realized, is His joy. And His joy is my strength.
Until the whole world knows that even an unuttered and unformulated “yes” gives compete merit to the ultimate sacrifice, I will go and tell.
You, sweet one, your potential “yes,” is the joy of Jesus’ heart. And of mine.
From my heart,
Erika
