Welcome Readers!

Isaiah 53  was part of my daily devotions and it just hit me in a new way. Let’s look into verses 3-6 today. I’m using the New Living Translation.

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care.

I realize I have turned my back on Jesus, looked the other way. I have joined those who despised and rejected Him, and did not care. Not only was this before I met Him, I’ve had times since, sometimes daily, when I’ve turned my back, looking to my own way.

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Isaiah 53:4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    a punishment for his own sins!

How deceived we all were; sometimes still can be. We think sometimes we live and die to ourselves, but many times don’t realize what our sins and selfishness as well as the sins of others put Christ through. When we try to live by “cheap grace”, we don’t really see that it was our own sorrows, troubles and punishment He bore for us.

^{Isaiah 53:5} But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

Yes, His head, hands, feet and side were pierced for my rebellion, his body crushed for my sins, His beating and whipping that turned His back into hamburger made the way for me to be healed and whole. His blood came from His head, hands, feet, side, back; flaying His body open to exposing internal parts. There isn’t a single sickness, illness, or infirmity His blood can’t cover; that was not paid for on the cross.

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^{Isaiah 53:6} All of us, like sheep  have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

Yes, Father God laid on Him the sins of us all; all human beings that ever were and ever will be on this planet. There isn’t a single one of us who has not strayed away and left God’s paths to follow our own. I don’t know about you, but my own paths have mucked up my life quite a bit. I realize I’m definitely no better than anyone else, but am so thankful Jesus paid the price and I have chosen to accept that payment to the best of my understanding. I’m so thankful Holy Spirit continues to open my eyes to see more of the wonders of Christ’s salvation.

Our Father in heaven, holy is Your name. Let Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. We have sinned; have gone astray. We are so sorry for not understanding, for our unbelief and times we turn away. Lord Jesus, we apply the blood sacrifice You paid to our hearts and thank You for covering us with Your righteousness. We accept the price You paid and recon ourselves dead to sin, alive in Your grace. Help us to apply that blood to our relationships and accept the things You’ve given us, including healing of our body, soul and mind. We leave ourselves in the hands of the Living God who lives forever; interceding before the throne for each of us. In the precious name of Christ, Amen.

Shalom to you all, my dear ones. May you truly experience Emmanuel, God with us. I leave you with this beautiful view of Yoho National Park, Canada; one of the puzzles we’ve done on our dining table while sequestered.