“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.”- Isaiah 53:3-4(NIV)
We are well acquainted with the story of the only son of God coming down to earth to bridge the gap between man and God (started in the Garden of Eden). It is an amazing story, but something often gets overlooked on this story, something very subtle. What is it? The fact that Jesus was human.
Too often we make excuses for our humanity and reason to ourselves that Jesus really doesn't understand (why we sin). I mean how could He right? He never endured what we endure, He never felt like we felt? We deify Him so much that we don't read the moments in which He was hungry. The moments He and His band of misfits didn't have much money to do what they wanted. I'm also pretty sure He was attracted to a few ladies of His day, but some may consider it a sacrilege to think that. If the bible proclaims that He was a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering wouldn't it lead you to believe that He felt like we do?
"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted." This powerful prophecy proves to everyone that Jesus understands us. I don't know what your particular situation is, but I do know that Jesus understands. He felt our every sickness with a lashing on his soft skin, He felt the weight of sin for all mankind on an old rugged cross. If there's anything in life we need to really grasp is that Jesus was every bit as human as we are. The difference between us was that He was willing to die for everyone, even those He knew would never appreciate it. That's love!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The Greatest Love of All
"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life." John 3:16 (The Message)
The bible expounds on God's ultimate act of love. John 15:13 states, "No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends." While Romans 5:7-8 says, "Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die. But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us."
Lucifer (Satan) was once the light of heaven, and felt this love daily as he was the principal worshiper of heaven. Yet his own pride cast him out of the presence of this divine love and into eternal damnation. Why do you think he hates us so much? He can never let the light of that love reflect upon his soul any longer, and its tearing him apart.
Friends I am convinced that this is the greatest love story ever told. How one man could leave the comforts and riches of heaven to save a world destined to die? Its really hard for me to fathom. It is true many of us would die for people who love us and we love in return, but God didn't place a limitation or requisite to love He wanted ALL to experience the depth of His love.
I pray that all of us would rejoice more than ever in the wonderful sacrifice made for us, so much so that we make a concerted effort to share it with those who don't know it. God didn't want us to hoard His love all to ourselves by keeping it a secret. He wanted us spread this amazing story to others so that they can grasp the true depth of His love for ALL.
Monday, November 7, 2011
He never fails
"I trust in God at all times. I pour out my heart before Him; God is a refuge for me." Psalm 62:8 (Amplified)
Ever been backed into a corner, and really felt like you couldn't make a definitive step forward? I know I have. It's as if I felt so entrapped that I almost couldn't breathe. It's a horrible feeling because you have the deep sinking sensation that things have gone horribly awry and there is no way out.
In the midst of that trouble... God came near. Just when I felt like I couldn't go any further or see a way out, a light radiated in the midst of darkness and delivered me from that trying situation, in ways that were wholly unexpected yet completely welcome.
Now this may not be the experience many have encountered, but quite often I've been asked by others why I believe and the simplest answer I can give is this, "He's never failed me." When things in my life have gone wrong, never have I been left alone and abandoned, and in all truth, that's really all I need.
Ever been backed into a corner, and really felt like you couldn't make a definitive step forward? I know I have. It's as if I felt so entrapped that I almost couldn't breathe. It's a horrible feeling because you have the deep sinking sensation that things have gone horribly awry and there is no way out.
In the midst of that trouble... God came near. Just when I felt like I couldn't go any further or see a way out, a light radiated in the midst of darkness and delivered me from that trying situation, in ways that were wholly unexpected yet completely welcome.
Now this may not be the experience many have encountered, but quite often I've been asked by others why I believe and the simplest answer I can give is this, "He's never failed me." When things in my life have gone wrong, never have I been left alone and abandoned, and in all truth, that's really all I need.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Faith
"By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones)" Ephesians 1:18 (Amplified)
How do we have the eyes of our heart flooded with light? The simple answer is found in Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Jesus is the light of the world. Apart from him there is only darkness. We have light because we are His children and readily profess that He is the Son of God through our faith.
It's amazing how faith operates. We weren't there when he turned the water into wine. We weren't there when He raised Lazarus from the dead. Yet we believe. Jesus told Peter after asking the disciples who they thought He was, "..blessed are you Peter because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you" (that Jesus was the son of God). You see God immeasurably blesses the faith that operates within you. You just have to continually operate in it, not let the enemy steal your faith, and above all share this faith with others, for that is the purpose to which He called us to.
How do we have the eyes of our heart flooded with light? The simple answer is found in Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Jesus is the light of the world. Apart from him there is only darkness. We have light because we are His children and readily profess that He is the Son of God through our faith.
It's amazing how faith operates. We weren't there when he turned the water into wine. We weren't there when He raised Lazarus from the dead. Yet we believe. Jesus told Peter after asking the disciples who they thought He was, "..blessed are you Peter because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you" (that Jesus was the son of God). You see God immeasurably blesses the faith that operates within you. You just have to continually operate in it, not let the enemy steal your faith, and above all share this faith with others, for that is the purpose to which He called us to.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Trust
"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried. He is a Shield to me because I trust and take refuge in Him. For who is God but the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God? God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in His way and sets me free." 2 Samuel 22:31-33
David writes this song after enduring 14 hard years in the wilderness. 14 years of a nomadic lifestyle not necessarily knowing where he would lay his head the next day or the day after that. His life had become relegated to trusting God in ways he probably would never have signed up for had he known this was the path to the throne.
Yet if there was one thing that David was sure of it was God. He knew that God is not a man that He should lie, and he knew that though he couldn't figure things out on his own he took comfort in the fact that he really didn't have to. He trusted God through those 14 arduous years of bloodshed and defections. He endured because he held on to God's promise and that was enough for him.
God saw this persistence in David and was impressed with how His servant never relented in trusting Him. After all, David has two specific occassions to take matters into his own hands and assume the throne his way, but he wouldn't take the bait and waited on God. That's trust.
I wonder what is God asking us to trust Him for today? I wonder if we are truly devoting ourselves to trusting Him and not taking matters into our own hands even when we have an opportunity to do so. David proves to us that we can hold on to God's word, because He's never slack in delivering on His promises.
David writes this song after enduring 14 hard years in the wilderness. 14 years of a nomadic lifestyle not necessarily knowing where he would lay his head the next day or the day after that. His life had become relegated to trusting God in ways he probably would never have signed up for had he known this was the path to the throne.
Yet if there was one thing that David was sure of it was God. He knew that God is not a man that He should lie, and he knew that though he couldn't figure things out on his own he took comfort in the fact that he really didn't have to. He trusted God through those 14 arduous years of bloodshed and defections. He endured because he held on to God's promise and that was enough for him.
God saw this persistence in David and was impressed with how His servant never relented in trusting Him. After all, David has two specific occassions to take matters into his own hands and assume the throne his way, but he wouldn't take the bait and waited on God. That's trust.
I wonder what is God asking us to trust Him for today? I wonder if we are truly devoting ourselves to trusting Him and not taking matters into our own hands even when we have an opportunity to do so. David proves to us that we can hold on to God's word, because He's never slack in delivering on His promises.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Remember God
"Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you the power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath." Deuteronomy 8:18
I would like for you to recall a time in your life or in the life of someone you know where God did not come through with a promise. You'd probably wrack your brain for a while for that time never has, nor ever will exist. After all His word does say, "God is not a man, so He does not lie." (Numbers 23:19) This is the very reason why His promises are yes and amen.
This is of extreme importance because it gives us reason to trust His promises in the bible. The promise given in Deuteronomy 8:18 is to encourage us to believe that regardless of the circumstances surrounding us, if we remember the Lord, we will have the power to be successful in life. The bible also says in Psalm 37:25, "Once I was young, but now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread."
This means is that we must continually remind ourselves that God is on our side, and He's empowered us to live a life of success and favor. The true key to this power and successful lifestyle is remembering who it is who gives you the power to be that way. So when times get tough don't rely on your own power and strength, for it is His power and strength that has overcome the world. (John 16:33)
I would like for you to recall a time in your life or in the life of someone you know where God did not come through with a promise. You'd probably wrack your brain for a while for that time never has, nor ever will exist. After all His word does say, "God is not a man, so He does not lie." (Numbers 23:19) This is the very reason why His promises are yes and amen.
This is of extreme importance because it gives us reason to trust His promises in the bible. The promise given in Deuteronomy 8:18 is to encourage us to believe that regardless of the circumstances surrounding us, if we remember the Lord, we will have the power to be successful in life. The bible also says in Psalm 37:25, "Once I was young, but now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread."
This means is that we must continually remind ourselves that God is on our side, and He's empowered us to live a life of success and favor. The true key to this power and successful lifestyle is remembering who it is who gives you the power to be that way. So when times get tough don't rely on your own power and strength, for it is His power and strength that has overcome the world. (John 16:33)
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Rejoice
"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 (NLT)
I was praying this morning and I said to God, "I'm so thankful for the cause to praise you." Then I began to think about it and I totally understood that there is always a cause to praise God. To be happy in Him. I am full of breath. I am able to go to work. I have health, and on and on. Complaining should not be a part of my vocabulary, but praise and joy should always be a part of our expression.
Resist the temptation to be unhappy, think about God's goodness to you and to others. That's more than enough cause to praise Him. For those who are unhappy will show it through their outer expression, while those who are continually rejoicing live their lives appreciative of what they have and the God they serve. Let that be you today!
I was praying this morning and I said to God, "I'm so thankful for the cause to praise you." Then I began to think about it and I totally understood that there is always a cause to praise God. To be happy in Him. I am full of breath. I am able to go to work. I have health, and on and on. Complaining should not be a part of my vocabulary, but praise and joy should always be a part of our expression.
Resist the temptation to be unhappy, think about God's goodness to you and to others. That's more than enough cause to praise Him. For those who are unhappy will show it through their outer expression, while those who are continually rejoicing live their lives appreciative of what they have and the God they serve. Let that be you today!
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