From Believers to Disciples
Friday, March 2, 2007
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“Study to show yourself approved by God …” 2 Timothy 2:15a KJV
Prayer Focus for Today
Heavenly Father, today the focus of my prayer is the victory Jesus gained over sin and death, and the ultimate exaltation He knew after the most horrendous, possible death. I pray today that I will live every moment of this day with the awareness that Jesus has been exalted, and that my role in response is to live as an obedient servant. Grant the power of Your Holy Spirit that I may live such a life with great joy! This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
13See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. 14Many were amazed when they saw him—beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person. 15And he will again startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not previously been told about; they will understand what they had not heard about.
1Who has believed our message? To whom will the LORD reveal his saving power? 2My servant grew up in the LORD’S presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. 3He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.
4Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! 5But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! 6All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.
7He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins—that he was suffering their punishment? 9He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.
10But it was the LORD’S good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’S plan will prosper in his hands. 11When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. 12I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.
From Today’s Reading, a Believer …
Isaiah 13:10-12 reminds us that Jesus’ ultimate standing is as victor over sin and death, NOT as the defeated one. What are the implications of this for our daily living as believers in Him?
Let’s Go Deeper in Our Walk with Jesus
Read Isaiah 13:10-12 and note anything that draws you closer to Jesus or deeper in your walk with him.
From Today’s Reading, a Disciple of Jesus Will …
Isaiah 52:10-12 is the “punch line” of the entire account of the suffering servant. That “punch line” is that good defeats evil. This is the ultimate truth in our lives. As you go about this day commit in your spirit and will to live in the light of Jesus’ goodness that darkness may be dispelled and sin overcome!
Ministry, Mission, Outreach, Service Opportunities to Consider
As we are officially in the season of Lent, a time of penitence and reflection, this week is a good time to consider the effectiveness of our daily walk with Jesus, and how we are doing as serving others in Jesus’ name. Today consider how your RELATIONSHIPS show others that Jesus is (or isn’t!) in charge of your life. Take some time to reflect on what needs to happen for Jesus to be in control of your RELATIONSHIPS, then commit to letting the Holy Spirit guide your RELATIONSHIPS today that God may be glorified!
My Journal
Note any thoughts from Through the Bible or the Daily Reading here:
Christus Victor!
One of the ways that theologians look at Jesus death on the cross is known as the “Christus Victor” or Christ the Victor model. Isaiah 53:10-12 confirms this model as Jesus does not stay dead, but returns to be blessed and glorified. That is the ultimate outcome of the cross, and as followers of Jesus we are “co-heirs” with Him, thus we are going to share in the blessing not only now, but for all of eternity. As you go about today, remember that we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS as the Apostle Paul put it through Jesus who loved us—and loved us enough to die for us to prove it!