Healed by My Wounds.....

Isaiah, chapter 53, speaks of the Messiah, Jesus, who would suffer for the sins of all people. Such a prophecy is astounding! Who would believe that God would choose to save the world through a humble, suffering servant rather than a glorious king? The idea is contrary to human pride and worldly ways. But God often works in ways we don't expect - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, my ways, declares the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8). The Messiah's strength is shown by humility, suffering and mercy.

Let's look at the description of Christ and His suffering from the following verses in Isaiah 53:

• Despised and rejected, a man of sorrows - "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem." v. 3


• Bore our grief and sorrows - "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted." v. 4


• Wounded, bruised and beaten for our transgressions - "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." v. 5.


• Bore the guilt and sin of all - "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." v. 6.


• Like a lamb brought to the slaughter - "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." v. 7.


• Tried and led away to His death - " 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." v. 8


• Died with the wicked but buried with the rich - "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." v. 9


• Suffered according to God's good plan - "Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand." v. 10


• Poured out His soul unto death and was counted as a sinner - "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." v. 12

From the devotional, Heaven Calling: "When Isaiah wrote this prophecy, he did not understand the scope of what I would one day do through my Son. But, beloved, this is how deeply I love you. I sent Jesus to take the weight of sin. He was afflicted and pierced. The punishment that would bring peace and forgiveness to you landed with full force on Him.

When He took all sin upon Him, I had to look away, for my holiness could not tolerate the sight of evil. Separated from me, my Son died. This was the weight that He bore for you, child. It was the only way I could rescue you; the only way I could bring you life and hope and healing.

Now go ahead and celebrate - for you are free!! Free indeed!"

Song of Solomon - Not Just Another Silly Love Song

Song of Solomon is a little book tucked away in the middle of your Bible, but contains a big story of love and passion with beautiful imagery mixed throughout. The book's purpose is three-fold: 1) to tell of the love between a bridegroom (King Solomon) and his bride 2) to affirm the sanctity of marriage and 3) to give us a visual of God's love for His bride, the Church.

Written by King Solomon during his youth, the Song of Solomon describes his love for and marriage to a beautiful country girl called the "Shulamite woman". It is a collection of love poems between a husband and wife, with occasional sections attributed to friends who shared in the couple's happiness.

One of the most misunderstood and least read books of God's Word, I challenge you today to take a minute and follow along as I share a devotion from Elizabeth George's book, Women Who Loved God, as we note the stages of Solomon's growing and deepening relationship with his bride:

Knowing - "Getting to know you" is the all-important first step in any relationship. An individual's values, character, and personality are revealed over time. Time spent together also gives one person the opportunity to observe another's love and commitment to God (Song 1:1-3:5).

Marrying- A wedding marks the beginning of two lives becoming one and the blesssing of sex and greater intimacy between partners (Song 3:6-5:1).

Cleaving - Count on it: Every marriage will be tested! As challenges and afflictions come, both partners must follow through on their commitment to the Lord and to the commitment of marriage. Properly handled with God's wisdom and grace, problems will press a couple more closely to one another and to their heavenly Father (Song 5:2-8:4).

Journeying - Hand in hand, a husband and wife who love and honor both God and one another can face the trials and tribulations of life (Song 8:5-14).

Even today, some 3000 years after it was written, Jews around the world read this exquisite love song every year at their Passover celebration.

No BLOG Question this week - Just spend time reading God's love poem and sense the same passion He has for you as the bride and groom had for each other.

Ecclesiastes....Chasing After the Wind

The chocolate bunny lies in the basket, surrounded by green "grass." With Easter morning eyes wide with anticipation, the little boy carefully lifts the candy figure and bites into one of the long ears. But the sweet taste fades quickly, and the child looks again at the candy in his hand. It is hollow! Empty, futile, hollow, nothing - the words have a ring of disappointment and disillusionment. Yet this is the life experience of many people. Grasping the sweet things - possessions, positions, power and pleasure - they find nothing inside. Life is empty, meaningless and they sink into despair.

The book of Ecclesiastes is a autobiography by King Solomon at the end of his life after he strayed away from God. His honest words relate his findings that life without God is a long and fruitless search for enjoyment, meaning and fulfillment. He hopes to spare his listeners/readers the bitterness of learning through personal experience that carrying out life's pursuits apart from God is empty, hollow and meaningless. (From The NIV Life Application Study Bible)

I want us to ponder this statement today: There is much less that you can depend on than you might think! How many people (yourself included) have been searching for meaning and fulfillment in life only to find themselves feeling empty, disappointed and disillusioned. They are depending on things and people, other than God, to bring them happiness, love, acceptance, appreciation, respect, success, etc. Solomon describes this as a "chasing after the wind." A futile action with no lasting results. I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind (Ecc. 1:14).

1) Education - People are depending on wisdom and learning to fill the emptiness in their life. Knowledge is good - when gained and used in the proper perspective. Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind (Ecc. 1:17).

2) Career - People are depending on their work to guarantee a lifetime of comfort and success. We all know people who have learned the hard way that their careers cannot provide security forever. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun (Ecc. 2:11).

3) Others - People are depending on the approval and acceptance from others to give their lives meaning. If the right people love them, show them attention and make them feel special, then all is good. They will never feel alone or abandoned ever again. They are constantly in a battle to win the approval of others. And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind (Ecc. 4:4).

4) Self - People are convinced they don't need God; "religion" is a crutch for weak people who can't provide wealth and emotional well-being for themselves. We are a self absorbed society and yet a very depressed group of people. Something must not be working for those who ignore and avoid their need for God in order to find meaning and fulfillment in life. To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind (Ecc. 2:26).

5) Dreaming - People who spend their life dreaming of what could be; what would make them happy; if only they had more money, more material possessions, more respect, more opportunities, etc. They need to heed Solomon's advice. Six times in the book of Ecclesiastes he advises us to enjoy life now and be grateful for God's gifts. Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind (Ecc. 6:9).

God wants us to depend on Him for meaning in life. He wants us to realize that true happiness comes from obeying Him. He wants us to know that He will always be there for us. He wants us to stop chasing after the wind and everything else we think will bring us purpose and fulfillment in life.

BLOG COMMENT: Have you searched for meaning in things other than God? Can you relate to the frustration of chasing after the wind? Share with us!

Proverbs Challenge

Are you up to joining us as we read through the book of wisdom - Proverbs - this month? I don't know about you but I need more wisdom in my life. I need more guidance as I strive to be a better wife, mother, teacher, speaker and friend. I need wisdom to make better choices and decisions. To recognize what's important and wise versus what seems urgent and foolish.

Take the challenge with us and see what God shows you this month. You can download a reading chart - simply click on the Proverbs link on the right side of the page and record what God's Word is teaching you through the many practical insights in the book of Proverbs.

Then, share with us by posting a comment below! We can all gain from each other's input. I look forward to learning from you :) Tonia