SACRIFICE - Good Friday Meditation

1 John 4:10 declares that God - because of His love for us - sent Jesus to be the "atoning sacrifice" or "propitiation" for our sins. It's incredibly humbling to realize once again that Jesus' purpose in coming to earth was to die for you and me.

Philippians 2:8 says that Jesus Christ became obedient to death when He went to the cross for us. I believe this means that by acting in obedience to the will of His Father, He was compelled to die on the cross. He knew that this was the only way to reconcile sinful man to God, and though - in His humanity - He didn't want the torture and pain, He submitted Himself to the suffering for our sake.

Surely He has borne our griefs a

nd carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken, s

mitten by God, and afflicted.

⁵ 

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

A

nd by His stripes we are healed.

 

All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief.

When You make His soul an offering for sin,

He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,

And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

¹¹ 

He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,

For He shall bear their iniquities.

~ Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-11 ~

2 Corinthians 5:21 says that "God made Him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

It is sobering and saddening to remember on this day that it was because of my sin that Jesus had to go to the cross. But this is GOOD Friday, and there is reason to rejoice. Why? Because of Jesus' perfect sacrifice, we have forgiveness and reconciliation with God, despite our sinful choices - marvelous grace!

Thank You, Jesus, for taking the punishment for my sin, for bearing the suffering and pain that I deserved. Thank You for being willing to be my sacrifice and for reminding me again of Your great love for me.

Once again I look upon the cross where You died;

I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside;

Once again I thank You, once again I pour out my life.

(Because You poured Yours out for me.)

More Than I Can See

How often we think that "I know what I'm supposed to do and why I'm supposed to be here" and then God bursts our bubble in a gentle way and reminds us that He has a plan so much greater than we can see.

This is what happened for me the week of June 24-30 at Lake Of The Trees Bible Camp -- I went to help out for a week, to assist with admin duties and whatever needed to be done, and thought that would be my main job. And in a sense it was, but God was doing such a work of healing and revival in the hearts and lives of the staff that were there for staff training that some of those more routine things took a back seat.

About mid-week, God lovingly showed me that even though I was there to help with practical tasks (which I did), that He had also placed me there so that I could be an encouragement to the young people who were struggling with letting go of the pain in their past and learning how to trust God and walk in obedience with Him...

There was more going on than I was able to see at the time, and at the end of the week I was so overwhelmed with joy and peace that He had chosen to use me in that way -- far beyond what I had expected to take place!

I praise God for the moments that He opens my eyes to what He is doing, which is often more than I can see in the midst of everyday life.

I need to remember this -- as we all do -- because it's so easy to focus on what we can see, and we may miss some blessings and the little glimpses God gives us of His plan, which is so far beyond our vision and comprehension.

As I prepare to go to Ukraine, I know that there is more than I can see happening in the lives of the people here in Canada who are part of this ministry, as well as the people whose lives I will be part of in Ukraine...and I am excited about that, even if I never get the full picture!

OBEDIENCE -- THE VERY BEST WAY

Yesterday, I was convicted...God had spoken to my heart about something and I was still hemming and hawing about whether I would do it and if I did, how I should do it.

Then, unexpectedly to me (but I see this as the working of the Holy Spirit), I had this little song that I learned at Dorion Bible Camp ringing through my mind...

                                  Obedience is the very best way 
                                  To show that you believe: 
                                  Doing exactly what the Lord commands,
                                  Doing it happily. 
                                  Action is the key--do it immediately, 
                                  The joy you will receive! 
                                  Obedience is the very best way 
                                  To show that you believe. 

It didn't take long! I knew what I needed to do, and as I bowed my heart in obedience and then took the action that God had been nudging me to do, I realized that the issue was not the exact details of the action, but rather my willingness to obey.

And yes, as soon as I obeyed, I received three joys -- the joy of release from my internal struggle, the joy of giving freely, and the joy of knowing I had pleased my Father.

Obedience is the very best way to live -- and to show that you believe God's Word to be true and His working for good in your life.

                                  When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
                                  What a glory He sheds on our way;
                                  While we do His good will, He abides with us still, 
                                  And with all who will trust and obey.
                                  Trust and obey, for there's no other way 
                                  To be happy in Jesus, 
                                  But to trust and obey. 

MEDITATIONS ON THE PSALMS - Psalm 19

In my daily Bible reading, I have found such delight in meditating on the daily Psalm and discovering the treasures I sometimes fail to see when I simply read it through, especially if it is familiar to me. And since it is such a treasure, I want to share it with others.

PSALM 19
I have always loved this Psalm, but as I read it the other day, I began to appreciate it in a new way. This Psalm in particular clearly shows the connection between who God is and what our response to Him should be.

~ God's Majesty ~
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork."
We should never cease to be amazed by what we see in the world around us and in the minute glimpses we get of the universe, because this is one very tangible way in which God shows us what He is like. Even verses 4-6 express a revelation of God; as the sun's "rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat," so also God's realm encompasses all and nothing is hidden from His sight.

~ God's Righteousness ~
"The law of the Lord is perfect...the testimony of the Lord is sure...the statutes of the Lord are right...the commandment of the Lord is pure...the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether..."
Six declarations are made in this section about the laws and statutes that God has given to His people and the psalmist proclaims that they "convert the soul, make wise the simple, bring rejoicing to the heart, enlighten the eyes," that they are to be desired "more than gold" and that "in keeping them there is great reward." Since we know that God has revealed Himself not only in creation but also through His laws, we should rejoice in that and respond in obedience.

~ My Response ~
"Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults."
The appropriate response to a God of such majesty, holiness and righteousness is a response of humility and a willingness to let Him change my heart. As I recognize and admit that I am sinful and ask Him to cleanse me and reveal my sin, my prayer becomes this: that "the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."