We have arrived at the 14th week of our Challenge. Our two verses from 100 Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart this week are again consecutive and from what could arguably be the most significant chapter in all of the Old Testament, dare I say the whole Bible. They were prophetic when written, but for us a beautiful account of the Truth of our salvation today. Robert J. Morgan shares his own insights in the book for our final two verses in the section titled "Assurance: Inner Peace and Security," but this week I want to share my own thoughts about the passage we'll be memorizing this week:
Isaiah 53:5-6
I get emotional as I read this passage. I struggle to even put into words the way it touches my heart in the deepest and darkest places. This truth is so amazing... it's Amazing Grace, really. The imbalance that I see here. I can't fully express it. Let me break it down in the way I read it.
Our transgressions...
Our iniquities...
We all went astray...
We all have turned our own way...
He was pierced...
Crushed....
Punishment was on Him...
His wounds...
The LORD punished Him...
For our peace...
We are healed...
Why? It's a question that can never be answered, because it's a love we cannot comprehend. No matter how much we love, our love has limits. You see it everywhere, estranged children, divorced couples, broken friendships. Our love is limited. We can reach a point of pain where we choose to walk away. Jesus never did. And the pain we have inflicted upon Him, is more than we can even fathom.
I love the Lord, and I honestly think about Him constantly. I have said many times, if He was still walking around here on earth, I would be His stalker. But I fail Him every day: an unkind word, a selfish attitude, a sinful thought. The things I did before I knew Him? Sinful beyond words. But every one of those sins, were wounds He bore so He could forgive me. And still I fail. And still He loves. To me, the reality of His grace cannot be grasped, but I am so thankful it can be received.
As the holidays approach, I need to remind myself that this is what Christmas is really all about. Celebrating my Savior, who loves me more than I can fathom. And the LORD has punished Him for the iniquity of us all. So the truth is, He died to forgive all, and yet so many celebrate CHRISTmas without even knowing the gift He died to give them as well. So I encourage you, as you work on your verses this week, not only ponder the wonder of the gift you've already been given, but consider passing that gift along to some that don't and perhaps they can unwrap the Geatest Gift ever this CHRISTmas season.
PS DON'T FORGET TO RSVP TO THE 2ND LEG THAT BEGINS ON JANUARY 1, 2012!!!
