Connecting Points

Monday, May 23, 2011

Today’s Topic:  Move On

Today’s Text:  Isaiah 43:18-19  “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

Major League baseball season is under way, the Stanley Cup playoffs are in the semi-finals, and so are the NBA playoffs. Can anyone out there tell me who won the World Series last year? How about the Stanley Cup or the NBA Championship?  Are any of those same teams in the running again this year?

Many people pride themselves on their past victories, and they have a right to. I have trophies in my office from days long past and skills long lost. But to dwell on the past and believe that there is nothing more to be done is to put ourselves on the road to a meaningless existence. Resting on past accomplishments minimizes the chance of any future ones.

Don’t get me wrong – God requires memorials of His past victories in our lives. He told the Israelites to set up memorials at key times of their history. But now He tells them to forget those things and press on to the new things that He is going to do.

This teaching of the Lord has a spiritual and a corporal application. From a personal perspective many people, especially those of us who have surpassed the age of fifty, tend to spend far more time looking backwards at what we did and how we did it than we do looking forward to the adventure that God has planned ahead. We get stuck in our ways, and then get critical and bitter towards new people doing new things. This must not be!  God says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

It happens corporally in the church as well. Too many times we hear the phrase “But we’ve never done it that way before.”  God says “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

Do you think for one iota of a nano-second that when God told the people to forget what He did at the crossing of the Red Sea that He was telling them to devalue it and consider it unimportant? No way! To do that He would have had to devalue Himself and admit He was wrong. God did what God did, and at that time it was great and good. But He would not do it that way again. He used part of the method the next time at the Jordan River, but not all of it. He adapted to new situations with new methods. That doesn’t mean the way He did it the first time was wrong. In fact, it was just the right way to do it for that time. Now it was a new time, and God was going to use new methods to reach His people.

This really speaks to me, both personally and pastorally. I need to meditate on this today and let the Lord show me if there is anything from the past that I am still holding on to because I believe for some reason it validates my life. I need to let the Holy Spirit tell me if there is any accomplishment or method from my past from which I receive my affirmation. Then I need to confess the idolatry of that, and surrender to the new things He wants to do in and through me.

Will you join me in that process of growth and healing today?

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Today’s Topic:  Wrong Eternity?

Today’s Text:  Galatians 6:7-9  Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.   The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature  will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

In the midst of a very busy schedule I must take a moment and challenge your thinking with something this morning. No explanations, just a thought provoking statement that I want you to contemplate.

As I was driving through the city yesterday I read something on a church sign that challenged my thinking. I know what the Pastor is trying to say, I think, and I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. But in reality the theology is all wrong. It seems to appeal to our culture’s desire to never be responsible for our own actions. Here’s the statement:

“Don’t end up in the wrong eternity.”

Here’s why I think that’s wrong – NO ONE ENDS UP IN THE WRONG ETERNITY. We all end up in the eternity we have chosen for ourselves.

Think about it.

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Monday, May 16, 2011

Today’s Topic:  Whose Thirst Matters?

Today’s Text:  Isaiah 43:10  “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.”

I want to continue with some thoughts on the subject of God’s call on our lives to be His witnesses. It just so happens that in my current chronological study of the life of Jesus that I am doing for our Sunday worship services, we came yesterday to the story of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at a well. (John 4:1-30) Let me share with you the first three points that the Lord taught me about the model witness Jesus was.

First, as you may remember from the story, Jesus was on a trip from Judea to Galilee. Instead of going the traditional Jewish route which avoided any contact with the region of Samaria and/or Samaritan people, He intentionally went into the “forbidden” territory. Jesus was travelling, but His itinerary was scary.

It’s scary to intentionally go out witnessing. It’s scary just answering spiritual questions people ask us. But early in His ministry on earth and in the training of His disciples, Jesus modeled the priority of doing the Father’s will, which is to be a witness. It is what we have been called to do. It is our divine purpose. We are the ambassadors of Christ, bringing the message of reconciliation through the cross to the unsaved people of the world.

Jesus intentionally went to where the unsaved were. Not only did He choose to go into dangerous territory, but He put His own reputation at risk by communicating with a Samaritan woman – and an adulterous Samaritan woman at that. That was totally contrary to anything that a respectable Jewish man would do, let alone one who was proclaiming Himself to be the Jewish Messiah. But risk meant nothing to the Savior of the world when compared to the mission He had been assigned by the Father. Obedience to the Father and trust in His Sovereign grace was the priority of His life.

Are we willing to accept the call the go wherever God leads us to bring the Gospel to the lost? What does your itinerary look like today? Is it comfortable and controllable, or does it include something scary like sharing Jesus with an unsaved person?

Second, Jesus went to the well at a time of the day when He would meet someone who was rejected by the rest of society. The traditional time for the women of the city to go out to the well and draw water was early in the morning. They might also return in the evening. They never came at noon because it was too hot. Only the people who weren’t a part of the “in” crowd went to the well at other times. So it was with the woman Jesus met. Because of her marital and sexual immorality she had most likely been excluded from the circle of fellowship with the other women. Jesus went to a place where He would meet the worst that society has to offer.

How about us? Are we only comfortable sharing our faith with our peers, or will we intentionally go out of our way to meet the spiritual needs of the people commonly rejected by those in our social strata?

Third, Jesus asks the woman for a drink, fully intending to steer the conversation to the living water He had to offer her. I was blown away by something so simple yet so profound in this section of the story – Jesus NEVER got His drink of water. He was thirsty, but her thirst came first! He completely set aside any and all of His fleshly desires for the sake of fulfilling His purpose to be a witness to the woman of God’s salvation.

So again the questions pop into my mind. What desires do I have for my life that I have made a higher priority than being a witness? What am I thirsty for, and how many opportunities to be a witness have I missed because I am pursuing my physical or emotional thirsts rather than seeing the spiritual thirst of others?

CONVICTION…followed by repentance…followed by forgiveness…followed by a renewed commitment. That’s the plan for today.

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Monday, May 09, 2011

Today’s Topic:  Wonder, Worship, and Witness

Today’s Text:  Isaiah 43:10  “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.”

I love to take notes in my Bible. I don’t do it as much as I used to, but when the Lord teaches me something from His Word, it is appropriate for me to make a note of it in the margins. As I look through my Bibles from the past, I realize I should have been doing something more – I should have been writing down when and where I was when the Lord revealed that truth to me. It would be helpful to have the context of the Holy Spirit’s teaching to give me a deeper connection to it.

Such is the case this morning as we come to Isaiah 43:10-15. At some point in my study of this prophetic book the Lord showed me something very special that I have written down, but I don’t know when it was or what the circumstances were. Oh well. Such is the memory of an aging man. So there will be no funny stories and no personal anecdotes. Just truth. Plain and simple teaching. May the Holy Spirit add the flavor necessary for you to ingest it and digest it.

Notice first the wonder of who God is. There is no other God, nor will there ever be. There is no other Savior, nor will there ever be. He has revealed Himself, He has saved us, and He has proclaimed His purpose to us. Then as if it isn’t enough for us to see His splendor and majesty, He has told us that we can know Him, believe Him, and understand Him. What a wonder that is!

Then notice the worship of God. When we know Him we worship Him. We worship Him as our Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. We worship Him our Lord and King. We worship Him as the eternal one, the ancient of days. Our worship is personal and intimate as God reveals Himself to us. He is our God, not just a god. The more we understand the wonder of God the more we will worship Him in the splendor of His majesty.

Finally, notice the witness for God. Worship is a witness. Worship motivates witnessing. God calls us witnesses. He call us to witness. We are witness of who He is and what He has done. He calls us to be unashamed to tell others everything we know about Him.

The wonder of God produces worship to God which produces witnessing for God.

Let that be the flavor of your life today and every day.

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Monday, May 09, 2011

Today’s Topic:  Saved and Safe!

Today’s Text:  Isaiah 43:2-3  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

Someday.

That word defines our perspective most of the time. When we are young life is all about someday as we dream of what we will grow up to be. As adults we have lots of somedays.

• Someday I’ll meet the right person to marry.
• Someday I’ll get rich.
• Someday I’ll own a home.
• Etc. Etc. ad nauseum.

Some of our somedays have to do with the trials and tribulations of life.

• Someday I’ll get better.
• Someday I’ll change him/her.
• Someday I’ll get out of this mess.
• Etc. Etc. ad more nauseum

Don’t get me wrong – dreams are okay. Goals and ambitions are fine. But we tend to live in a wishful world of denial. We are always looking for the better that’s ahead when in reality the very best may be right here right now. In fact, where God is working in our lives right now is the most important place for us to be and to direct all of our attention and energy.

This is especially true in regards to our salvation. Yes, there is a futuristic reality to our salvation when Jesus returns to complete our redemption by completing His work of sanctification in our lives. We will be like Him when we see Him face to face. However, far too many of us are satisfied to live in that Someday when God wants us to see His saving and keeping power in our lives TODAY! We are missing the best this life can offer when we live for the someday instead of realizing that God has given us His best for today.

Constantly looking to Someday makes us self-dependant in the realities of today. When trouble comes, we have to fix it because Someday hasn’t arrived. When the circumstances of life, finances and relationships test us to the limits of our strength and resolve, we have nowhere else to go because we only believe in Someday. That’s not what God intended for us. If we are living that way we are living beneath our privilege.

Read these words of the Lord carefully –  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Do you see the Today in those promises? Not Someday, but Today when you are experiencing the torrents of tribulation or the flames of fear, the Lord you God is your Savior. WOW!!!!!!! The power of Christ’s resurrected life in you is a very present reality and not reserved for Someday.

So go ahead – live for today. That’s where God is doing His greatest work in your life. You can see it, know it, and experience it.

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Friday, May 06, 2011

Today’s Topic:  Redeemed!

Today’s Text:  Isaiah 43:1  But now, this is what the LORD says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

“I miss my mommy.”

That sentiment came through loud and clear yesterday as one of our grandkids sat on the couch at our house looking out the window. It was almost time for his daddy to pick him up but he wanted his mommy. Once daddy arrived he was fine, but he made a bee-line for the truck to get home as fast as he could. He wanted to be where she would be.

As kids we may not have analyzed the reasons why we loved mom so much, but we sure knew there was something special about her. As I’ve reflected on my mom over the last few days, one aspect of her character stands out to me, and I think it’s probably true of most moms. Moms have an incredible sense of balance. They know how to be tough when it’s called for, but they also know when it’s time to snuggle. They know how to give warnings and then follow them up with warmth. They know just how much fear of consequences to instill and at just the right time they bring the assurance needed to offer safety and security.

In that respect, mom was a great example of God’s heart. In the section of Isaiah we are studying God demonstrates this balance. He gives warnings and warmth. He is strict but He is sensitive.

All of this reminds me of a scene from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The children have arrived at the house of the beaver and they are talking about the winter conditions and when spring will ever come. The beaver informs them of Aslan the Lion. You see, Aslan is not just a lion, but he’s a great Lion. He’s the King of the Beasts, and the real ruler of Narnia. Then Susan asks the beavers, “Is he safe?” Mrs. Beaver says, “If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.” Lucy asks, “Then he isn’t safe?” And Mr. Beaver says this famous line about Aslan: “’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

There’s an old saying,

“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”

Aslan is the picture of God. He isn’t safe, but He is good. There’s balance. At the end of Isaiah 42 there is a strict warning about not paying attention to what God is doing. Then, at the height of their fear, God comes as their Comforter and provides them a security blanket. He says, “I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; YOU ARE MINE!” As they shook with fear because He is not safe, they were called by name and gathered into His arms in a heavenly snuggle and reassured of their value and status provided by the Redeemer who died on the cross for their sins.

God is so good at that. At just the right time, when all looks gloomy, He comes with His grace and reminds us that we are His. When worry brings wallowing God comes with wisdom because He knows our every need and cares for us. When we are trembling with fear He reminds us that death has no power over us because we are redeemed.

Whatever winter remains in your life today; whatever wrong continues to break your spirit; look for the Lion. Spring is coming when He returns to the throne of your heart. You are His…FOREVER!

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Thursday, May 05, 2011

Today’s Topic:  Pay Attention!

Today’s Text:  Isaiah 42:20  “You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing.”

“Pay Attention.”

I cannot count how many times those two words rang out from the teacher’s lips while I was in school. It humbles me to admit that most of the time they were directed at me. I was an undiagnosed ADHD child. My eyes were open and I saw many things, but they were always flitting around trying to be a part of everything that was going on near me. My ears were one channel, hearing only what my eyes were focused on, which was usually not the teacher. Later my wife would coin the phrase “selective hearing.” Yet somehow, in the back of my mind, I heard everything she said, got all my work done, and hovered consistently around the top of my class. The brain is a fascinating creation of an infinite God and it amazes me.

As I observe the actions and attitudes of the general public, I am convinced that there is a rampant yet undiagnosed epidemic surging through the world. It is called Spiritual ADHD. It has been present in the world for many millenniums, but is now reaching an infectious rate never before seen in history. People look like they have their eyes open, but all they see is man’s activity. They appear to have their ears open, but all they hear is man’s voice. As I progress through these days I have heard the voice of God speaking clearly saying “Pay attention!” I’m pretty sure that the public is not listening.

In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 16, Jesus is approached by a group of religious leaders who had Spiritual ADHD. Here’s the story:

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.   ²He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’   ³and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”

Even back in the days of our Lord’s ministry on earth He was trying to get people to pay attention. There were sufficient signs in the physical, cultural and political events of the day to uncover God’s purpose and plan as revealed in the prophecies of Scripture. The general public should have been able to see them and discern their meaning.

But before we go getting all high and mighty about ourselves and put these guys down, how many of us are spending sufficient time in Scripture to understand what God said about the days in which we live? And if we are, how many of us are paying attention to the signs of the times and adjusting our lives accordingly?

I believe that every event in these last days is an opportunity for us to hear God’s voice calling us to pay attention. He is calling us to become more and more active in the advancement of His kingdom and not the kingdoms of this world. Those who are paying attention are devoting more and more of their time and resources to the work of the Gospel. Priorities need to be adjusted so that our lifestyles reflect our commitment to the cause of Christ. Instead of changing our personal budgets so that God gets less we need to adjust our spending habits so that God gets more than ever. Otherwise we are not paying attention.

Look around. The fruit on the tree is getting ripe, The fields are already white unto harvest. Pray that the Lord will send forth workers into the harvest field, and pray that you will be one of them.

PAY ATTENTION!!!!!

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Today’s Topic:  Never Forsaken

Today’s Text:  Isaiah 42:16   I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Thank you all for praying for me during this time of recovery from surgery. Your personal involvement in the ministry of encouragement is a great expression of your love for others which always results from one’s love for God. As the Apostle John puts it – “We cannot say that the love of the Father is in us if we do not love one another.”

Typically during a physical down time in my life I get very contemplative and emotional. For me, activity dulls the sensitivity to emotional need. That’s not a good thing, it’s just the reality I’ve chosen. Not a good choice. So when I am forced into inactivity, I get emotional. I really think it’s the rebound effect from always running on adrenaline. Also not a good thing.

Two things happen during those times: I become easily discouraged to the point of tears, and I become much more able to hear the voice of God. This sets up a huge spiritual battlefield in my mind. Satan gets a foothold in the mire of discouragement, while the Holy Spirit seeks to fix my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith. Most of the time my human nature gravitates towards the muck rather than the magnificence of the Lord. The murkiness of circumstances darkens the majesty of the Master.

It hit me the hardest yesterday at an unexpected time. Following a wonderful grandparent’s after-school time with two of the kids, we stopped at the local Christian book store. Denise needed a card for her mom for Mother’s Day. I opened the door for her and followed her into the store. I made it four steps into the store and the tears started flowing. I don’t need to buy a Mother’s Day card. I walked over to where my wife was and almost told her I needed to leave. I composed myself by walking to the back of the store and avoiding the customers that were in that area. Then I distracted myself by shopping. By the time Denise was ready to go I was doing fine, or so I thought.

When we got in the car it overwhelmed me again. Denise handed me a tissue. I drove with blurred vision caused by watery eyes. Two things had happened with the previous two hours while I was with the grandchildren that had added potency to the Enemy’s arsenal of fiery darts – the first was some discouraging news about the ministry, and the second was a discouraging personal conversation with an individual. Satan used both of them to mount a full attack on my emotional need for affirmation.

You see, my mom was the single most influential person in my life when it came to showing me a living faith and to affirming my life in Christ. She gave me confidence. She showed me where my value came from. She helped me see the difference between being a person who bases their value on their abilities, performance, and preferences and one who finds their worth in Christ alone.  Then, in a single moment of loss coupled with two emotionally debilitating conversations, I felt forsaken. I felt alone. I felt completely unaffirmed.

I do not believe there is anything worse that we can ever experience than the sense of being forsaken. Jesus went through it on the cross when He became our sin for us and the Father turned His back. What a horrible experience it is to have the one who has previously supplied you with all of your worth and value as a person suddenly turn their back on you. It’s just as tragic when the person who was supposed to provide you with affirmation fails to do so. It’s even worse when we realize that we have been looking to someone or something other than God for those affirmations. Then we are completely alone.

Praise God that He never forsakes us! Oh how I needed that truth yesterday…and every day! God is in control of the ministry. God is in control of the selfish and stubborn actions and words of people. God is the one who affirms us. He will never forsake us. He will turn our darkness into light. He will guide us on unfamiliar paths. He will smooth out the rough roads. His majesty is mightier than the muck!

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Today’s Topic:  Let the Water Flow

Today’s Text:  Isaiah 42:8   “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another.”

It’s been at least eight years.   A lot of crud can accumulate in that amount of time, and it had. I wouldn’t have thought about it except all of a sudden during a shower a couple of weeks ago the water just quit running. After about ten seconds it kicked back in again and pressure returned. At first I thought one of our house guests – Dudley – was playing a trick on me. Not so. That began the investigation into the cause.

We have a well at our rural home, so I went to the basement where the pressure tank is located. I began to check the pressure switch and discovered that it wasn’t working properly. I started making some adjustments. I would turn the set screws one way and then the other, trying to get them in just the right place so that the water would flow smoothly without interruption. I would get it to work for a few days, and then it would get messed up again.

Finally, after days of fighting with it I realized that the problem might be either a faulty switch or a plugged feed line to the switch. You see, water has to pass through the feed line under pressure to turn the switch on and off. If the feed line is plugged, the switch can’t work and the water won’t flow consistently. Why hadn’t I thought of that sooner? Oh well, my need to fix what I have rather than replace it got the best of me.

Yesterday I decided to fix it once and for all, so off to the plumbing supply store I went to buy the parts. I got everything I could potentially need, plus used the opportunity to buy a couple of new tools. WooHoo! When I returned my wife and I filled some buckets with water in case we needed it, and then the fun started.

I shut off the power to the pump, disconnected the water conditioner and softener and moved them out of the way. I wondered how rusted in place the parts would be on the back of the pressure tank. I prayed a quick prayer that they would be easy to remove and replace. The first turn of the wrench on the pressure switch surprised me. Why? Hadn’t I just prayed? It came off easily, and not with a “snap” like sometimes. You men know what I mean.

When I turned the switch over and looked at it the feed pipe was almost totally clogged with gunk – oozing rusty crud. No wonder the switch would take forever to turn on and off – there was no way the switch could register the pressure readings. The pipe and switch both needed to be replaced, and while I was at it I put on a new pressure gauge as well. I had it all done and working in less than an hour. What a blessing. I stopped and thanked the Lord for making the job easy and for giving me the skills to accomplish it. He gets all the glory.

I wonder how many times I have done things and taken the credit for them? Probably a lot. You too I’ll bet. God doesn’t take kindly to that. When we take credit for what have done we have made ourselves into an idol that we worship. That may seem hard to stomach, but it’s the truth. We are our own god much of the time.

The problem with that is that it fills the feed line of our lives with crud – oozing rusty gunk called pride. We make all kinds of external adjustments trying to keep the water flowing smoothly, but every day something interrupts the flow and we get caught in the middle of a mess with no water. So we try to make more external adjustments when what is really needed is a clean feed line.

So let me ask you – How clean is the feed line through which the Living Water is supposed to flow into your life? Are you spending time every day in Scripture and prayer? Do you ask the Father for His direction and wisdom every day? Do you praise the Son for your forgiveness and eternal life every day? Do you depend upon the Holy Spirit to produce the character of Christ in you every day? Is the Water flowing?

One more thing – make sure God gets the glory for everything you do. Don’t be guilty of idol worship.

Pastor John

P.S. Pray for me tomorrow – I have surgery to remove my gall bladder. Thanks

Connecting Points

Friday, April 22, 2011

Today’s Topic:  Suffering Brings Freedom

Today’s Text:  Isaiah 42:6-7   “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

This morning while chatting on facebook with an unsaved friend, I was asked how I was. You know, the typical conversation starter. I said I was fantastic, and then said why – This is the day out of all human history that God chose to solve man’s sin problem.” The friend responded, “I thought this was the day the Easter bunny got his eggs ready for Sunday.”  It opened the door for a time of planting seeds of truth.

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. That verse from Psalms directly refers to this day – the day that we traditionally celebrate the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. It was much more than a horrifying death at the hands of man: it was a substitutionary death at the hands of a loving God. Hard to comprehend, isn’t it? Love forcing suffering doesn’t make sense to our finite minds. But to those of us who are being saved by the blood of Jesus, it is the splendor of the Gospel. Unfortunately to the unsaved it is foolishness.

The payment of sin’s debt of death to a holy and righteous God is required from each one of us. We will either pay it ourselves or we will accept a payment already made and be debt-free. That payment was Jesus Christ who died on the cross. The payment was accepted and eternally validated when God raised Jesus from the dead and restored Him to His position of exalted honor on the throne of Heaven. That’s where those who accept His life in exchange for our own will meet Him and spend eternity with Him.

The suffering of Jesus brings us freedom. Blind eyes that cannot see God are opened when the light of God’s love is seen in Jesus. Bondage to sinful behaviors is broken when Jesus takes hold of our hand. Jesus became our sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him!

I know it is skipping way ahead in our study of Isaiah, but chapter fifty-three has incredible significance and meaning when understood as a prophecy of Christ’s death on the cross. Read it slowly and carefully, and let the impact of it bless you and send you into a time of rejoicing, for this is the day the Lord planned for us.

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?  He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.  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.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.  By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 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.  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.  After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.

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 sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.