The Cross is Enough 1
I'm stuck - stuck on Isaiah 53 and all that we have been given because of what Jesus did for us. I hate to admit it but I'm guilty too, guilty of taking it all for granted. So over the next week we are going to look at this chapter in the book of Isaiah. I encourage you to read it daily with me and to spend some time thinking specifically about how much you have been given because of Him.
WHO HAS believed (trusted in, relied upon, and clung to) our message [of that which was revealed to us]? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been disclosed? For [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no form or comeliness [royal, kingly pomp], that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him.
Isaiah 53:1-3 Amplified
The good news of the Gospel - what Jesus has done for us - is an invitation for every person to develop a close and personal relationship with God. All are invited and all are welcome but some people choose not to believe. They refuse some or all of the many blessings that Jesus suffered for us to have.
There was nothing to the human eye that was special about Jesus. He was an average looking guy with no distinguishing features. Jesus was a humble man Who was fully God. He did nothing to attract attention to Himself but did everything for the glory of God, the Father.
Jesus was a Man of sorrows and pains. He understood what is was like to grieve and be sick. He also knew what it felt like to be rejected, despised, and abused by people.
Let's see how these three verses can impact our life today.
Everyone is invited by Jesus and yet so often we pass judgment on one another and exclude those who do not believe, look or live like we do. In doing this, we take on the role of God and prevent people He has called from entering into a relationship with Him. Because God has given us free will, we can choose what we will and won't believe. We are not to judge anyone because of their choices. Jesus did not mistreat people because they refused to believe and neither should we.
Our goal in life should be to resemble Jesus more and more each day. We don't live to attract attention to ourselves but to Him. Clothing is one area we can make a huge impact. Now don't get me wrong here, I love clothes and shoes (as my husband will tell you) but wearing clothes that reveal a lot of cleavage or has your bottom hanging out is not Christ like. When we wear revealing clothes they draw attention to our skin instead of who we are and what Jesus has done for us.
Our attitude and how we treat others is another way we can give glory to God. Jesus was never rude - to anyone. Being hateful, gossiping, and harboring unforgiveness keeps our attention off of God and prevents us from giving Him glory with our lives.
There is no one like Jesus who can understand our hurts and pains. You are not alone in your suffering. Were you mistreated? So was Jesus. Were you rejected? So was Jesus. Were you abused? So was Jesus. Are people saying untrue or negative things about you? Have you been treated unfairly? So was Jesus. No matter what someone may have done to you or said about you, Jesus knows what it's like and He is offering you the chance to grow past it.
Letting go of our past so we can embrace our future is part of our decision to be imitators of Christ.
Jesus is the only One who can and does truly understand all that you have been through and He loves you greatly.
The cross is enough to heal all your hurts.
Heidirn
WHO HAS believed (trusted in, relied upon, and clung to) our message [of that which was revealed to us]? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been disclosed? For [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no form or comeliness [royal, kingly pomp], that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him.
Isaiah 53:1-3 Amplified
The good news of the Gospel - what Jesus has done for us - is an invitation for every person to develop a close and personal relationship with God. All are invited and all are welcome but some people choose not to believe. They refuse some or all of the many blessings that Jesus suffered for us to have.
There was nothing to the human eye that was special about Jesus. He was an average looking guy with no distinguishing features. Jesus was a humble man Who was fully God. He did nothing to attract attention to Himself but did everything for the glory of God, the Father.
Jesus was a Man of sorrows and pains. He understood what is was like to grieve and be sick. He also knew what it felt like to be rejected, despised, and abused by people.
Let's see how these three verses can impact our life today.
Everyone is invited by Jesus and yet so often we pass judgment on one another and exclude those who do not believe, look or live like we do. In doing this, we take on the role of God and prevent people He has called from entering into a relationship with Him. Because God has given us free will, we can choose what we will and won't believe. We are not to judge anyone because of their choices. Jesus did not mistreat people because they refused to believe and neither should we.
Our goal in life should be to resemble Jesus more and more each day. We don't live to attract attention to ourselves but to Him. Clothing is one area we can make a huge impact. Now don't get me wrong here, I love clothes and shoes (as my husband will tell you) but wearing clothes that reveal a lot of cleavage or has your bottom hanging out is not Christ like. When we wear revealing clothes they draw attention to our skin instead of who we are and what Jesus has done for us.
Our attitude and how we treat others is another way we can give glory to God. Jesus was never rude - to anyone. Being hateful, gossiping, and harboring unforgiveness keeps our attention off of God and prevents us from giving Him glory with our lives.
There is no one like Jesus who can understand our hurts and pains. You are not alone in your suffering. Were you mistreated? So was Jesus. Were you rejected? So was Jesus. Were you abused? So was Jesus. Are people saying untrue or negative things about you? Have you been treated unfairly? So was Jesus. No matter what someone may have done to you or said about you, Jesus knows what it's like and He is offering you the chance to grow past it.
Letting go of our past so we can embrace our future is part of our decision to be imitators of Christ.
Jesus is the only One who can and does truly understand all that you have been through and He loves you greatly.
The cross is enough to heal all your hurts.
Heidirn
Comments
Post a Comment