Prayer Journal

Wednesday, October 15, 2003

Read the Bible through in OneYear

288/78

"Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.'" Isaiah 45:23-24

Have you ever wondered where the writers of the New Testament got their inspiration? According to 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul believed the Scriptures are God-breathed." Peter believed that it was the Holy Spirit inspiring men as they wrote and spoke things that God revealed to them. (2Ti 3:16; 2 Pe1: 21)

In Isaiah 45, the prophet wrote of the Lord, his power, might and purpose. If you're familiar with Paul's letter to the Philippians 2, you might recognize the words of Isaiah being used to form a wonderful picture of the deity of Jesus: "Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God." (Php 2:10-11)

Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to use the prophets writing to conclude Jesus was the fruition of God's glory revealed to man. His message reached some of the legalists to whom he preached, but many Jews read Isaiah's words today and never come to conclude what Paul did. Instead, they believe God will reveal himself one day to the Jews as the Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords. Scripture agrees with that belief, but sadly, many of those students of Judaism will die having never realized God's saving grace through Jesus, the Door.

One day on a hill called Golgotha, nailed to a cross and dying, Jesus said of those who crucified him, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." The forgiveness for which Jesus prayed did not secure their place in Abraham's bosom, neither did they gain the assurance of Paradise that Jesus promised the penitent thief dying next to Him. When Jesus "became flesh and dwelled among us," he became the divine sacrifice of the ages and the only way a person, any person - Jew or Gentile, can see God.

A remember a song called "Who Killed Jesus?" written and sung a long time ago by a young aspiring evangelist/singer named Mickey Holiday. That song addressed the accountability of those seemingly responsible for Jesus' death on the cross. I can remember my daughter constantly singing the tune, but she didn't know what it meant to be a sinner and need a Savior. However, it irritated her mother to the point she professed Christ.

Do you know who killed Jesus? Many believe the Jews took His life. Others think Pilate and/or Herod were both guilty of the crime. Holiday concludes in the last verse of his song: "I killed Jesus many years ago; I am guilty of this crime so low." Yes, it was for you that Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be nailed on that cross. Although the hateful Jews around Jesus may have manipulated Pilate to have Jesus killed, they are not the "real" guilty party.

You see, you are guilty of taking the Savior's life because it was your sin that required a holy sacrifice you alone cannot provide. Many Jews have died in their sin over the years because they never saw Jesus for who He is. It's been over 2,000 years since Jesus came and people are still making the same mistake.

We've all known of terminally ill patients; the doctor's prognosis says they will die prematurely unless a miracle cure is found. But what about dying of terminal stupidity and ignorance? Jesus is the miracle cure for our sin and one day we'll all proclaim He is Lord, whether we ever profess it in this life or not.

I pray the Great Physician doesn't examine your heart and find you to be terminally stupid.

Just Thinkin'... WebServant

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I'll pray today for...
* My spouse
* My children
* Their friends
* My friends
* My employer
* My city
* My country
* Civic leaders
* Schools
* Teachers

* The sick
* The lost
* Those in despair
* The hospitalized
* The grieving
* Widows
* Orphans

* My church
* My pastor
* Church leaders
* Other churches
* Persecuted church
* Missionaries
* Myself