Set Your Face
Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 (NKJV)
It was time for Jesus to be crucified, buried, and resurrected in Jerusalem. Knowing the task that was before Him, scripture tells us He set His face to go to Jerusalem. The phrase “set His face” stands out to me. Jesus was aware of what He would have to endure in Jerusalem: the betrayal, beatings, mocking, torture, and excruciating pain. Yet, we are told He set His face to go there.
He set His face, or He resolutely determined. He made a committed decision, backed up with action. He did not back out. He was determined to see it through. He knew the cost and He became immovable in His quest to set mankind free.
Today, we might use the phrase “make a quality decision” to say something similar. A quality decision is one in which you have decided in advance that there is no turning back. For example, when I was born-again and learned about the sin of drunkeness, I made a quality decision to never drink alcoholic beverages again. And when Jim and I learned that it is poor stewardship of our money to be in debt, we set our faces to never borrow money again. That is what it means to set your face.
When is the last time you “set your face” to do something? Do you make decisions and stick to them, or are you sort of wishy-washy? James 1:8 (KJV) says a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
The Amplified Bible Classic Edition (AMPC) says it like this:
[For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].
When you know it is God’s will to go in a certain direction, set your face; make a decision and stick with it. Be determined. Do not allow yourself to be talked out of it. You will be amazed at how much more stable you and your circumstances will become. It will bring you peace, and you will be viewed as a more reliable and committed person.
