Friday, April 2, 2010

Jesus’ Portion






“ Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,

and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he

poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the

                       transgressors. For he bore the sins Of many, and made

                       intercession for the transgressors” Isaiah 53:12 (NIV)





God allows Jesus to share His home. Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father because He gave up His life so that we may be considered sinless and enter into the realm of Heaven when God calls us.

But, in order to do this, Jesus had to endure accusations of stirring rebellion against the Roman government and overthrowing it.

At this writing, I am aware of two families who have lost a loved one. One was suddenly taken from us. But we know he was ready to go. He was a servant in the mission field. Last year he went on two missions trips. The other, a lady, had been ill for several months. Her diagnosis came as a shock. But, God called her home. She served where she could. Taking care of family members both where she lived and out of state. Both of these saintly people were able to serve their Lord because of what He did on Calvary.

Jesus received His reward from the Father because of what he endured. The Son chose to be counted as evil in order to allow us to be deemed worthy to enter God’s presence.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Jesus, The Guilt Offering






“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him

to suffer and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering,

he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will

                of the Lord will prosper in his hand.” Isaiah 53:10 (NIV)



God had to allow His Son to die such a painful death and put Jesus through the suffering of the Cross. The religious leaders of the people of Israel wouldn’t listen to Him. The Father used the Son as an offering to absolve the people’s guilt. Jesus was the ONLY one who was worthy and pure enough to bear the burden. He took this abuse willingly. Because Christ shed His blood for us, we will be able to see Him again. Also, God’s kingdom will enlarge as people thankfully follow Him and His Son until the day they will see Him.

God made Jesus the offering for our guilt. As His children, we should acknowledge this selfless act of the Son each and every day. Everything we are and everything we have are given to us by God through His son. These things are made precious when we remember how it is we have them.

Monday, March 29, 2010

He Had No Deceit





“He was assigned a grave with the wicked

and with the rich in his death, though he had

done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.”

Isaiah 25:9 (NIV)



Our Lord didn’t have a special grave, it was a cave in a garden. Someone donated it. The grave belonged to a rich man by the standards of the Hebrew people. Jesus hadn’t done anything wrong And he never told a lie.

I had a phone conversation with a relative by marriage one day. She told me something her mother had told her when she was growing up. “There are three kinds of lies. Little white lies, acceptable in society, they don’t hurt anyone. Gray lies, stronger in intent, might hurt someone. Black lies, the worst kind, hurts a lot of people.”

I don’t agree with this way of thinking. I feel a lie is a lie. I believe a follower of Christ should never have to resort to lying in order to get his or her way or to get ahead.

He should be our example as we travel through our lives, conduct business, and, establish relationships with others.

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...