Friday April 8, 2022

Today is Friday, April 8 and this week we explore what the Bible says about justification.

Today I seek to draw near to the presence of God. I take a moment to relax, slow my breathing and silence my scattered thoughts as I focus on the God who loves me.

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord God, I seek you in the quiet stillness of the day. I treasure these precious, intimate moments with you and long to hear the message you have for me. Speak to me through the power of your Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

I turn to God for mercy and call to him with the words of Psalm 51.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Psalm 51:1-4

Pause and Pray

The Old Testament is filled with references to service and servants. Key among those passages are the servant songs of Isaiah found in chapters 42-53, known as second Isaiah written by the prophet around 538 B.C.. The prophetic songs of the Suffering Servant are fulfilled partially in the nation of Israel and completely in the person of Jesus Christ. These prophecies indicate that suffering is essential to the role of the Messiah of God. Jesus himself indicated that humble self-giving service is the road to greatness. Jesus was obedient to God’s will even to his death on the cross. His death paid the price for humanity, freeing us for joyful obedience and abundant life with him.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our 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 its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. Isaiah 53:4-8

Although written over five hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah perfectly predicts the suffering and death of the Messiah of the world. His ancient words pierce the fabric of my soul. Surely Jesus took up my pain and bore my suffering, yet I have doubted and denied him many times. Like a stubborn wayward sheep, I often went astray, repeatedly going my own way following the attractive shiny things of this world. In order to find me, to bring me back home, God would not give up on me nor let me go. My sins were laid on Jesus. He was oppressed and afflicted for me and led like a lamb to the slaughter carrying the shame of my sins. He was pierced by the nails of cavalry for my transgressions, he was crushed by the crown of thorns for my iniquities, he endured agony and punishment for my trespasses. His suffering brought me justification and peace. By his wounds I am healed. By his stripes I am restored.

Ask: As I enter this final week of the Lenten Season and prepare to walk the journey to the cross during Holy Week – from Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday, what transgressions do I need to lay upon the cross of my Lord Jesus?

Pause and Pray

Lord God, you are holy and righteous. Reveal my sin to me, the instances I have strayed from your good path, the times I insisted on my own way. I regret my sin and seek your forgiveness. Thank you for the suffering of your Son, Jesus. Who was pierced for my transgressions and crushed for my iniquities. I pray for the healing and redemption of my undeserving, sorrowful soul through the power of your loving mercy and constant grace. I read the words from Romans again and listen for the message you have for me.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our 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 its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. Isaiah 53:4-8

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

God speaks to sinners like me – reaches out over the unfathomable depths of the universe to whisper grace to my fallen soul. God did not abandon me, nor reject me, despite my sin, but sent Jesus to suffer on my behalf. God wants me to know what the sacrifice of his son accomplished for me. Jesus’ pain, suffering, punishment, affliction, piercing, crushing, woundedness, oppression, and slaughter, was for my transgressions, iniquities, waywardness, disobedience, and failures. I am the one who should be judged, yet he was punished. Because of his suffering, I have justification and peace, my wounds are healed.

Pause and Pray

Come, Lord, I invite you to reveal depths of truth to my soul. Expose my brokenness, unmask my sickness, and diagnose the depths of my deadly disease. Remind me of the wonders of your love. Come find me, rescue me, bring me to safety, cleanse me, heal me, repair what is torn, mend what is shattered, restore what is lost and keep me ever close to you. I praise you out of deep gratitude for your great love. Amen.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

As I leave this time of prayer, I go as a justified believer in Jesus Christ to love others, show mercy, and demonstrate kindness to a lost and hurting world.

Amen