Tag: Food For Growth

Isaiah 53:3-12

[3]  He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [4]  Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. [5]  But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. [6]  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. [8] By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? [9] And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. [10] Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. [11] Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. [12]  Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Jesus has now been betrayed, condemned by the chief priests, turned over to Pilate, flogged mercilessly, and forced to carry His own cross up to Golgotha. On His way the cross becomes too much for Him and He is physically unable to carry it any further, so they get Simon the Cyrene to carry Jesus’ cross for Him. As if that wasn’t enough, they then strip Him of His clothes and nail Him to a tree.

Everyone around Him is mocking Him and reviling Him. Even those on the cross next to Him are mocking Him. People passing by are ridiculing and spewing hatred His way. It’s not until after Jesus drinks the sour wine and is almost ready to die that one thief on the cross realizes He is in fact the Messiah and changes His attitude before Him.

His body is raw from being flogged. His strength is gone from within Him and He is slowly and painfully suffocating to death. In order to get any ounce of breath into His lungs He has to push against the nails in His feet and His raw back against a wooden cross. He did this fully knowing that those around Him, the majority, would never repent. They’d never accept His sacrifice, but it didn’t matter. He did it willingly out of love, even go as far as to pray on their behalf for the Father to forgive them. From 9 am to 3 pm He hung on that cross in agony, never once taking the easy way out and giving into pride and showing them who He is by coming down off of that cross. Still, He turned the other cheek and showed them and the world love.

It’s easy to overlook what Christ did for us. It’s easy to just take it for granted. This is the importance of truly understanding what Christ did for us. I’ve watched the Passion of  the Christ ever since it first came out. I flinch at each whip that hits His body so viciously and every nail that pierces His flesh so mercilessly. I have loved ones who refuse to watch it because it’s too gruesome. I used to believe that this portrayal was what Christ would’ve looked like on the cross, but after reading Isaiah, I realized it wasn’t gruesome and painful enough.

¹⁴ Just as there were many who were appalled at Him— His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and His form marred beyond human likeness—

Isaiah 52:14^NIV

Isaiah says He was beaten beyond recognition so much so you couldn’t even tell He was human. Let that sink in. While Mel Gibson’s depiction was gruesome and is by far the best depiction we have of Christ’s crucifixion today, it doesn’t even come close to what Christ actually went through on the cross.

Christ’s sacrifice was so much more than what we feel and think it was. How can we refuse to look at something that doesn’t even come close to the true sacrifice of Christ Jesus because it’s too gruesome, but we want to accept the benefits of that sacrifice?

When we water down the message of salvation and all that Christ did for us, we begin to be take the sacrifice for granted. His sacrifice wasn’t nothing. It was a great sacrifice. At burden so henry Isaiah rightfully calls Him a Man of Sorrows.

Dear LORD, I’m sorry for every time I have taken Your sacrifice for granted. Please forgive me, LORD. Thank You for Your sacrifice. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your grace. Thank You, LORD, for giving Yourself without reservation. Help me to proclaim Your death until You return or call me to You. Help me to live a life worthy of being called Your servant. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. 

Exodus 12:5-13^NIV

[5] The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. [6] Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. [7] Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. [8] That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. [9] Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. [10] Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. [11] This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. [12] “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. [13] The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

The Passover is the feast in remembrance of the LORD passing over all who had the blood of the sacrificed lamb on the doorposts. This was the protection given to all who listened and obeyed. A protection against what? The Destroyer coming through the land of Egypt and striking down the first born. So, the LORD, when He saw the blood, would stop the Destroyer from entering the home of any person who had the blood on their doorposts.

This feast foreshadowed the LORD God Himself coming in the form of man and dying on the cross. Three days later, He rose from the dead and ascended to the father to sprinkle His blood in the altar in Heaven. Just as the blood was brushed on the doorposts, we, as Christians are washed and covered in the blood of Christ. Why? So that when the LORD comes to bring judgment on the earth by pouring out His wrath, He will look for His blood, see it, and call us to Himself so that we might not be caught in this wrath.

Dear LORD, thank You for Your sacrifice. Thank You for Your promise of redemption. Please help me to live my life striving to be worthy of Your precious and holy blood. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. 

¹⁵ The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to Him. ~ Deuteronomy 18:15^NIV

Before Moses died, he reassured the people that the LORD would send them another prophet like him, from among their own people. Moses had been saved from the decrees of pharaoh to be thrown in the river. That very river brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, who would pay his own mother to nurse him until he was old enough to be given to pharaoh’s daughter. He was raised in the palace of Pharaoh free from the persecution his people felt, yet he willingly risked it all to try to help his own.

This led to him fleeing for his own life and ending up a stranger in a strange land. There, he became a shepherd, a husband, and a father. He was free, enjoying life when the LORD called him back to Egypt. So, what does Moses do? The risks it all once again and goes to help his people. Then, throughout their deliverance, and even after, they complain to him. They blame him for their hardships.

Then, when God met with them, he was the only one who went into the presence of God and therefore became the bridge between God and man. Jesus’ story is similar but more intense.

He wasn’t just a guest in a foreign king’s home. No. He was the King of kings and LORD of lords seated on His own throne in Heaven. Free from all pain, suffering, and want, only to freely give it up to take on the from of a servant. He felt hunger, thirst, pain, suffering, and even temptation. All of this for the world He knew would ultimately reject Him and even crucify Him.

What’s the major difference between them? Moses physically delivered his people, but Christ physically, spiritually, and emotionally delivered all people willing to believe in Him. This deliverance was not for just a moment but is for all eternity. As Moses died, Christ also died, but the biggest difference is that Christ rose three days later. This is the most important difference.

Christ died but rose again to never die again. This is our hope. To die to sin and live to Christ. To look forward to His physical return, but even as He is physically in Heaven, His Holy Spirit dwells in us, and He lives through us. So we are not alone.

Dear LORD, thank You for Your promises fulfilled. Thank You for Your great sacrifice that freed me from my sin. Help me to not make light of Your sacrifice nor take it for granted. Teach me to lean on Your Holy Spirit and hear Your guiding whisper. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. 

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~ John 14:6^NIV

When Jesus says, ‘I Am the way,’ He’s not offering one path among many—No! It’s much, much more exclusive than that. Jesus is saying, “I AM the only Way to God.” When He declared Himself ‘the Way,’ this was no mere metaphor—it’s a radical claim that undermines and challenges every human attempt to chart their own course to God.

In a world cluttered with diverse paths of empty philosophies, deceptive practices, and misguided beliefs, Jesus stands as the singular, ‘living bridge’ between a holy God and a broken humanity.

The Greek term hodos, translated as “way,” signifies both a road and a journey. This implies that it represents not only a fixed direction but also a dynamic, personal experience, and Jesus is the path we traverse, guiding us safely to the Father.

Without Him, we’re lost wanderers, stumbling in the dark, chasing shadows of salvation that can never lead us home.

He doesn’t just show the way; He ‘is’ the Way, the only access to reconciliation with God the Father, because He alone bore the weight of our sin on the cross, clearing the roadblock of our rebellion.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Go To The Way.

¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. ~ John 15:11

The context of this passage is crucial. Jesus was nearing the end of His earthly ministry, fully aware of the trials, suffering, and crucifixion awaiting Him and, in time, His disciples. Yet, He chose to emphasize Abundant Joy over despair—not just any joy, but a powerful, deep-seated force that laughs in the face of danger and smirks in the presence of anguish. Far from a temporary, fleeting emotion, this Abundant Joy is a profound, abiding state flowing from Him, inviting us into a rich, deeply fulfilling relationship untouched by circumstances. It offers comfort that transcends every challenge and affliction, an Abundant Joy independent of favorable conditions, rooted solely in His unshakable presence.

To live in this Abundant Joy means anchoring ourselves in the truth of who Jesus is and what He accomplished for us on the cross. When we embrace Christ’s Abundant Joy, we know it is rooted in the eternal rather than the temporal, and so we eagerly anticipate His return when He will gather His jewels—an event the Early Church called ‘The Blessed Hope.’ As we Christians comfort one another with this truth, Abundant Joy radiates from every fiber of our being, fueled by the promise of seeing our Savior and dwelling with Him forever. This understanding reshapes our perception of Abundant Joy, solidifying it with the knowledge that even in our darkest moments, God is working for our good. Indeed, the Abundant Joy of the LORD is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), empowering us to face challenges with unwavering faith and hope.

Just as a branch draws sustenance from the vine, we too draw Abundant Joy from our Savior. As we happily bear one another’s burdens, we also share in each other’s joys, united as a body grounded in Christ. Our circumstances may shift—struggles may emerge, pains may pierce our hearts, and trials may test our foundations—but the Abundant Joy of Jesus remains an unshakable constant.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the truth that the Joy of the LORD is my strength. Please help me to make that a reality. Help me to rise above my circumstances and immerse myself in the joy of the LORD, Your Abundant Joy. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

⁷ So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” ~ John 10:7-11

In this devotional series, we will explore what Jesus meant when He said He came so we might have life—and have it more abundantly—and how we can experience this abundant life.

Jesus declares He came so that we—those who accept Him as LORD and Savior—might live an abundant life. What does that look like? It’s more than spiritual vitality alone. It includes your spirit, yes, but also your physical health and emotional peace. You’re not living abundantly if illness traps you in bed or limits what your youth should enjoy, nor if setbacks steal your joy. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy—through disease, despair, or temptation—but Jesus, our Door, leads us to green pastures. He feeds our souls.

As His sheep, we face a spiritual battle, but through Him, we overcome. He laid down His life, took our chastisement for peace (Isaiah 53:5), and left us His peace (John 14:27). So don’t let the world’s troubles conquer you. Lean on Him in prayer when storms hit, trusting His strength to carry you. Fix your eyes on His promises—like Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”—to rise above fear or failure. With His Spirit, we are more than conquerors through Christ, who saves and strengthens us.

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for sending Your beloved Son to die on Calvary for us. Thank You, Jesus, for being obedient even unto death so that we might have life and life more abundantly. Teach me how to rely on Your grace so that I might be an overcomer. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

[9] Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: [10] If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. [11] Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? [12] Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12^NIV

I saw a video the other day entitled, What We Mean When We Say Marriage Is Hard. In the video, it was a husband and wife playing a game together. There were 5 bottles on top of 5 hidden bottles. They had to work together in order to find the pattern of the 5 hidden bottles. Every time the husband made progress, the wife would argue with him and undo the progress on her turn. She’d tell him that he was wrong and (apparently) that even the judge was wrong. What could’ve been a quick, easy win within just a few moves turned into a difficult uphill battle.

Who you choose to spend your life with and who you choose to keep around you will either build you up or tear you down. They will either help you reach your goals or hold you back.  They will either propel you towards your God-given call, or they will become an obstacle blocking your path. They will either lift the load or add to it. So be careful who you invite into your private world. Be careful who you invite into your private circle.

We are to be uplifting and encouraging towards each other, only building up and never tearing down. We are the body of Christ; we can’t work together if we’re fighting one another. We can’t be one if our desire is to destroy and dismantle anyone who isn’t exactly like us. We should never be dictators or narcissists in our relationships. Our actions should always point others back to Christ. They should always point back to the love of God. They should always cause those around us to see the Light of Christ in us.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Choose Wise Partners.

1 John 4:8 ^NIV

[8] Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

John’s statement that “God is love” is often overlooked by Christians and non-Christians alike. This single phrase differentiates Christianity from all other religions. There are approximately 10,000 different religious and spiritual beliefs out there, and not one has ever claimed God is love, except for Christianity.

Our God is not like any other god in all of creation. Our God left the splendor of heaven to save us and redeem us from our sin. He didn’t just leave us up to our own devices. No. He came to us and gave Himself for us. Why? Because God is love.

He doesn’t just do acts of love. He doesn’t just say words of love. This idea of a God whose very nature is love, rather than just one who acts lovingly, separates our God from all other gods. There is no one like Him.

Out of thousands of religious and spiritual belief systems, Christianity alone explicitly states that God is love in an ontological sense—meaning that love is not just something God does, but what He is at His very core. That kind of claim is profound. This idea is so central to Christian theology, shaping everything from the doctrine of the Trinity (a God who is relational within Himself) to the Incarnation (God becoming human out of love) and salvation (offered through sacrificial love).

The uniqueness of this concept really sets Christianity apart in a way that makes you stop and think. Our God is often mocked and ridiculed for being human to die for the world, but in reality it is the single greatest example of His nature. Love.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Know His Nature.