The Lord's Good Plan

"He was oppressed and treated harshly,

yet he never said a word.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,

he did not open his mouth.

Unjustly condemned,

he was led away.

No one cared that he died without descendants,

that his life was cut short in midstream.

But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people.

He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone.

But he was buried like a criminal;

he was put in a rich man's grave.

But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him

and cause him grief.

Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,

he will have many descendants.

He will enjoy a long life,

and the LORD's good plan will prosper in his hands."

Isaiah 53:7-10 NLT

There are at least a hundred cases in the United States of innocent people who have been wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to death row.  It's heartbreaking to see how their lives have been stolen from them and it's equally as infuriating to think that the justice system failed them so outrageously.  With all the checks and balances in place, this kind of injustice should never occur in a free country, yet it does more often than can be imagined.

Such wrongful death suits are nothing new, however.  Over two thousand years ago a similar case involving a humble Jewish teacher occurred in Roman-occupied Israel.  By all accounts this man spent his time helping others, giving them a new lease on life and showing them wonders never before seen.  He turned the religious system on its head, shaking up the status quo and calling out the hypocrisy found deep within the hearts of its leaders.  With all the good this carpenter's son from Galilee accomplished, he stepped on the wrong toes and thus was sentenced to death, death on a cross.

As infuriating as it is to see that an innocent man gave His life in such a brutal way, it amazes me to realize it was all a part of the Lord's good plan.

Offering.  The once perfect world is now tainted, corrupted and broken by the sin that came through Adam's disobedience (Romans 5:12).  Because of the wickedness of man, relationship with God is impossible.  His holiness cannot abide with such immorality as is found in His image bearers.  Thus He instituted the offering as a way to find forgiveness (Exodus 29:10-14).  So His people continuously laid their animal sacrifices on the altar as a way to find pardon for their transgressions (Leviticus 17:11).  But it was a temporary clemency at best, and only lasted until the next offense was committed, perhaps on the way home from the temple (Hebrews 10:1-3).  

Then came the permanent and eternal solution to this problem of sin.  Jesus Christ agreed to enter into the realm of men, becoming one Himself and presenting His own life as an offering for the transgressions committed by all for all time (Hebrews 7:27, 1 Peter 2:24).  His one perfect sacrifice proved to be enough to satisfy the justice of His Father, and His blood secured the forgiveness for all who repent and believe (Hebrews 10:10-12, 9:22).  Now I can be made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ and His sin offering given on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21).  I can now find forgiveness from God for as many times as needed (1 John 1:9)!

The brutal, unjust death of an innocent Man on the cross of Calvary was all a part of the Lord's good plan to deliver permanent forgiveness to those who turn away from sin and trust in Jesus.

Gateway.  The town I grew up in was dubbed "The Gateway to Mt Rainier" since visitors to the scenic national park must travel through the small village before heading up into the hills to enjoy the recreation found there.   While this designation may have had a small influence on the local economy, the description made more of a sentimental impact on the hearts of those who took pride in the looming mountain's visual impact on the surrounding area.  The presence of the snow-covered peak made quite an impression and appeared on many logos and signs as the town's defining landmark.

Similarly, Jesus described Himself as a gateway of sorts, but not to a scenic park.  Instead, He is the only way through which one can enter into eternal life.  He is the door that leads to an everlasting kingdom with wonders untold (John 10:9-10).  By turning away from my desire to control my life my way and instead placing it all in His hands, I can discover what it is to have peace with God and hope for tomorrow.  No longer do I fear death, failure, or the future, for my destiny is secure.  By faith I have entered into the family of God and look forward to a place in His heavenly home (John 14:2-3).

The unspeakable death of an innocent Man transformed Him into a gateway through which all who repent and believe can find an eternal, satisfying life.

Victory.  The air itself is oppressive in this world, filled with particles that send the respiratory system into revolt.  Pain and suffering mark it's boundaries and all taste the agony of living in this broken world.  At the end of it all, each man must face death, and the inevitable looms as a dark and unwelcome phantom, striking dread in the hearts of mankind.  I live in a world marked by fear and oppression.

When Jesus gave His life on the cross, He proclaimed victory over sin and death.  While the world remains in a broken state, there is now a way to live in it without becoming tainted by it.  Through repentance and faith in Jesus, I can find peace despite the fact that there is so much to fear.  I can be freed from the shackles that bind me to my flesh that always leads me to destruction and instead walk in liberty as I find the new way of living in tandem with His indwelling Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26).  And as I do, I find victory over sin and the end of my life no longer is thought of with great dread (1 Corinthians 15:57, Romans 8:37).  Instead, I look forward to the reward that lies beyond as I stand firm on the promises of God.

The horrible death of an innocent Man delivered by faith victory for me over sin and death.

It seemed wrong, unjust and harsh: This Man, wrongly accused and condemned to death on a cursed cross.  Yet if I look a little closer, I discover it was all a part of God's good plan.  And as such, the sacrifice of Jesus became a sin offering that was permanent and eternal, delivering forgiveness to all who repent and believe, and served as a gateway to an everlasting, satisfying life, showing itself as the mark of victory over sin and death.  In these ways, the worst-ever scenario was revealed as the Lord's good plan.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to put my life in His hands.

When do I trust more in my own effort instead of in what Jesus has already done?

How do I doubt my complete forgiveness found in Christ?

     

Cursed for Us

"If someone has committed a crime worthy of death

and is executed and hung on a tree,

the body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight.

You must bury the body that same day,

for anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God."

Deuteronomy 21:22-23a NLT

It was a horrible way to die.  The insolent young man who refused to obey his parents, choosing instead to live to please his own desires by gorging in sensual pleasures and drink, was taken to the outskirts of town.  According to God's holy law, the men of the town were required to throw stones at the rebellious youth until he succumbed to death.  This was God's chosen form of execution as a way to purge evil from His nation. (Deuteronomy 21:18-23)

Death by hanging on a tree, in contrast, was not an acceptable form of punishment and brought with it the curse of God.  Isn't it curious, then, that Jesus would willingly accept the shame that came with being put to death on a cross, taking on this curse of God on my behalf? (Galatians 3:13)  Yet this is exactly what Christ did.  He was willing to fall under God's curse in order to bring righteousness and eternal life to me.  In light of such a sacrifice, I am called to follow His lead.

Choose Humility

He is God.  With this identity comes privilege, power and honor.  Even so, He chose to give up His place at the right hand of God the Father where He was esteemed and lifted up in order to take on the form of a lowly human.  Not only that, but He sunk even lower, exchanging His divine nature for that of a servant.  Perhaps the greatest example of the humility of Christ, however, was that He agreed to death on a cross; a kind of execution that brought shame and disgrace to the one hanging there. (Philippians 2:5-8)

If Jesus was willing to undergo such treatment even though His name is above all other names, why am I so intent on preserving my own rights, demanding respect from others and protecting my reputation?  It is easy for me to get caught up in focusing on my privileges, my position, my character.  In fact, I often live according to the principles of the survival of the fittest, every man for himself and may the best man win.

Unfortunately, this self-centered mindset is not of God but of the world.  In order to follow Jesus, then, I must constantly fling off this self-preserving way of conducting life and instead pursue Jesus.  When He is my sole pursuit, I am only concerned with His name being glorified, His love being shared and His sacrifice being honored.  In this way, I will choose humility.

When Jesus stood on the mount, teaching the masses the ways of His kingdom, He said that, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3)  When I rate my own pursuits as insignificant, esteeming the needs of others as more valuable, I have chosen humbleness.  When I let go of my desire to defend myself, deeming the pursuit of peace as of more importance, I have chosen humbleness.  When I find the need to prove myself as right fading into the hazy background, choosing instead to understand the heart of my opponent, I have chosen humbleness.

Making the choice to take on a humble spirit is evidence that I am following Christ.

Choose the Gospel

He didn't have to agree.  Jesus could have refused.  He knew the hearts of men and of their cruel spirit. (John 2:25) He knew He would be spat upon, rejected and ridiculed.  Instead of preserving His own dignity, though, He chose to come to earth as a mere human in order to take the punishment of those He loves enough for whom to die.  There is no greater love than what He chose that fateful day. (John 15:13)  He chose to die a criminal's death, to become sin itself in order to save me from eternal death and restore my relationship with a holy God.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

What kind of sacrifice do I choose in order to further the good news of Jesus Christ?  Humiliation?  Embarrassment?  Rejection?  Most of the time I am too comfortable in my safe zone.  If I am to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, however, I will not find it objectionable to be considered as yesterday's garbage for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  (1 Corinthians 4:9-13)

This means when someone laughs in my face, I will only see the face of Christ as He hung in agony of the cross, dying a slow and painful death so that this mocker could taste life.  As Oswald Chambers said in My Utmost for His Highest, "You can refuse to let God count you as one separated unto the gospel.  Or you may say--'I do not care if I am treated as the offscouring of the earth as long as the Gospel is proclaimed.'"

Treating the Gospel as most important also means when someone targets me for abusive behavior, I endure, gently speaking the truth in love with the hope that my enemy will soon see the Truth and repent.  (2 Timothy 2:25-26)

It also means when I am fodder for the rumor mill, I will respond in love, always keeping in mind the testimony for Christ my reply could be.  

Making the choice to esteem the Gospel as most precious is evidence that I am following Christ.

Choose Obedience

He could have commanded legions of angels to rescue Him from the coming torture. (Matthew 26:53) He agonized so much over the decision to obey His Father's wishes that blood mingled with the sweat on His brow.  Jesus suffered as He prayed in the garden, wanting more than anything to further His Father's will but struggling with the thought of what was to come.  (Luke 22:42-44)

Jesus chose obedience over His own comfort, safety or well-being.  Instead of doing what would seem best for Himself, He placed His Father's will above His own.  In order to follow Christ, then, I must do the same.

When I am tempted to make a decision based on what will best benefit me, then, I instead need to consider what it is God desires. (Proverbs 3:5-6)  When I naturally look out for my own best interest, doing what will further my own long-term plan, I would be wise to instead seek the Lord to find out the plan He has for me.  (Jeremiah 29:1-13)  Or when I tend to do the things that elevate my own dreams and desires, I must cooperate with God as He transforms my way of thinking to more closely line up with His so that I'll recognize His aspirations for my life.  (Romans 12:2)

Making the choice to value God's will above my own is evidence that I am following Christ.

I am so thankful to Christ for the gift of salvation His death made possible.  While I could very easily live my life never going any further than making Jesus my Savior, it is my desire to go deeper and let Him be Lord of my life.  When I elevate Him to this position, I will find that it is necessary to do as He does by choosing humility, the Gospel and obedience to my Father above all other pursuits.  In this way, my faith in Christ will be shown as authentic and His sacrifice to take on the curse of God as He hung on that cross will not be in vain.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will humble myself before the Lord as I go about my day.

What kinds of everyday experiences tempt me to defend my own rights instead of desiring to elevate the Gospel?

How is it difficult for me to seek out God's will above my own?