Monday, March 30, 2009

The Wonder of Substitution

Isaiah 53:6

"All of us like sheep have gone astray,/ Each of us has turned to his own way;/ But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all/ To fall on Him."

The word "but" in this verse is of utmost significance. It highlights the unusual character of what the Lord has done. The servant who "will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted" is bearing the weight of our iniquity. Though we have gone astray, Christ bore our iniquity. It is not a reasonable or logical conclusion. It is something that is unexpected. It is such a surprising turn that leaves us speechless. Once we start to take substitution as a matter of fact or consider forgiveness a right rather than a gift, we lose the wonder of substitution. Try replacing "but" with "and" for instance; it removes all the glory of the substitutionary atonement. When we hear the word "but," we must stand in amazement that the Holy One crushed His Son in our place. May we never lose the wonder. Stay strong and God bless!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Wisdom in a House of Mourning

Ecclesiastes 7:2

"It is better to go to a house of mourning/ Than to go to a house of feasting,/ Because that is the end of every man,/ And the living takes it to heart."

We will all die one day; we should take it to heart. We ought to seriously consider what this life is about and prepare for that day. Death is real. Take it to heart!

Monday, March 16, 2009

The Word Endures

Isaiah 40:8

"The grass withers, the glower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."

If our wonder of the Word ends with a simple adoration of Scripture, I believe we really do not understand the beauty of this text. In context, Isaiah is speaking about the wonder of God and not specifically about the Word. Indeed, the Word is marvelous, but only because it is the Word of our God. Our wonder of the Word should direct our eyes to the wonder of God; it should leave us in adoration of the One who gives words of eternal life. I pray as you spend your time in the Word that you do not merely read it as a fine work of literature but rather as the precious Words of our redeeming Savior. God bless!

Monday, March 9, 2009

This Is Our God

Isaiah 25:9

"And it will be said in that day, 'Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom whom we have waited. Let us be rejoice and be glad in His salvation."

What kind of God are you waiting for? A God of self-help? A God of prosperity? A God of relationships? A God of emotional comfort? No. We wait for a God of salvation. Do not miss Him. He is Jesus Christ. This is the LORD for whom we have waited: Jesus Christ. His nail-pierced hands and feet will forever stand as a sign of the great salvation He accomplished through His death. This is our God. How many idols of this world and how many false "gods" must we put our hopes in before we realize that the Lord who was crucified and endured the wrath of God is our God. His own people for whom this verse was written missed Him. I pray we do not. Stay strong in the Lord and God bless!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Change

With all the talk about "change," I just found this demotivator to be a absolutely hilarious as well as incredibly profound. God bless!


Monday, March 2, 2009

God's Invitation

Isaiah 1:18

"'Come now, and let us reason together,' says the Lord, 'Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.'"

I find it absolutely amazing that it is always God inviting us into His throne to find forgiveness. The Offended is always wooing the offender. Isaiah will go on to write of all the injustices that Israel has committed against their Lord, and here is He saying, "Come now." The Lord desires to reason with sinners and give them forgiveness. That is an amazing picture of mercy, and to a sinner, there are no more comforting words than the Lord calling to us saying, "Come now." Let us joyfully come and taste forgiveness in Christ! Stay strong in the Lord and God bless!