Prayer Journal
Tuesday, December 19, 2000
God's grace is amazing, is it not? The song from our childhood says, "Jesus loves the little children. We are weak but He is strong". How true! Consider the fact that we have the incredible privilege of calling God, the Creator, our Father. Those who are redeemed through the blood of Jesus are God's children.
"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'. The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Rom 8:15-17
A more beautiful promise has never been made for those honored to be called the children of God and brothers and sisters of Christ. Today, I call your attention to the words, sharing of suffering, used in this verse. How would you appropriate this truth in your life?
May I suggest that Isaiah the prophet sheds some light on it as he makes a wonderful prophecy about the Messiah: "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 his shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." Isa 53:7
Look at your life. When was the last time you were attacked and accused innocently by those who sought to kill you? Like me, you will probably answer, "Never". But, how many times has the Spirit of God searched your heart and found that same wickedness in you and you tried to hand off the guilt you were feeling to anyone standing around you?
Even though you knew they were innocent, you passed judgment on them and pointed to them, trying to misdirect others to look at them and not you. Then you compounded your sin by spreading untruth about them, when all along you knew it was not true. That's exactly what happened to Jesus when he stood before the Jews and the Romans prior to His crucifixion. And we do it to others today.
Are you guilty? God is ready to forgive you, if you approach him in the right spirit and turn from your wickedness. Failure to do so, suggests you are in a state of denial, showing you desire to deal with your guilt alone. I remind you that children will not carry their guilt forever. Somewhere near the end of their rope, they decide to run and jump in their daddy's lap, wrap their arms around him, tell him everything they've done and ask his forgiveness. Maybe it's time for you to crawl up into your heavenly Father's lap and do the same.
Isaiah reminds us what the Lamb of God did for us at Calvary: "For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (53:12b) God is ready. Are we?
(1) Scripture comes from the Holy
Bible, New International Version; ©1978 by New York International
Bible Society
(2)The images used herein were obtained
from the Learning Company's ClickArt Christian Graphics Deluxe product,
(c)1999 The Learning Company, Inc and its subsidiaries, 88 Roland Way,
Novato, CA 94945 USA. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by 724info
©Copyright 2000 James R. Green & Prayertower Ministries,
All Rights Reserved
