This evening is a good time to pause for a few minutes and listen to God's voice. The text I'm reading today is one of the most amazing prophecies of Jesus found in the Old Testament. It's Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12. It's often referred to as the "Suffering Servant" prophecy, given almost 8 centuries before Jesus' birth! Give it a careful read.
Here's the part that the Spirit is emphasizing to me right now . . .
We've all like sheep wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our onw thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on him. (v. 6 Msg.)
It's the heart of the Good News--the central truth of Christianity. I'm never going to be good enough. I don't have a prayer of connecting with God on the basis of how well I've lived my life. No matter how well I might feel like I compare to some other people in the world, I'm flawed. I'm broken. I've played with evil. I've strayed away from God's will and stubbornly followed my own impulses at times. There were periods of my life when I felt so guilty, so far away from God.
So God steps up and rescues me! Unlike me, Jesus is good enough. This wayward sheep was saved by the sinless Lamb of God. And I'm so glad to let him have the glory! He is the one who deserves it. All of my cleansing of the past, my confidence in the present and my hope for the future is in Jesus. That's what Christianity is about--Jesus. It's realizing that Jesus is the only pillar we need to support our faith. Christianity is not about having the right checklist. It is not having the right ritual. It is not having the right positions. It is having the right Savior. Period. Jesus IS the way, the truth, and the life.
Thank you, Jesus, for bearing the punishment for all I've done wrong. I was a lost sheep. Today I rejoice that you came looking for me and found me and brought me home!
We would love to hear your impressions of what the Holy Spirit is emphasizing on your heart from this amazing prophecy. Please add your comments below (select Anonymous from the drop-down menu or sign in with your Google account first).
When I read this scripture, I think about how selfish and undeserving I am of God's forgiveness and salvation!! I once lived very far from God and gave no thought to what he had done for me. Jesus was/is perfect, did nothing to deserve the torment that he suffered, but he took all my despicable sin upon himself because of his awesome love for me!! That is an amazing truth....
ReplyDeleteIt is still sometimes hard for me to imagine all that Jesus went through in order to save my sorry soul.
"He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth." (v.7)
Lord, help me to love others like you love me. Forgive me for times when the entire day passes and I have done nothing for your glory. Your love for your people is pure, unconditional, unfailing, and totally unselfish!! Help me to remember what you have done for me and the punishment that has been taken from me. I am the one who deserves death for my transgressions, not you. But you took that from me, from all, and you love us even when we are so far from you! Thank you Lord for being my Savior and my Redeemer!!
Michele
How true of us all, Michele! And how awesome his grace is to you and me!
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