I had jumped out of bed early to get everything done! A couple hours later, as I was scrubbing floors and making cupcakes, I thought ‘what am I doing all this for?’
You see, my daughter, Breanne, had seen something in a Tupperware book that she just had to have. To get it, she had to schedule a party and get up an order, then, and only then, this item would be her prize. So, she scheduled a party…at my house.
While she slept at her house, I was up early getting everything ready for her party. While I was scrubbing floors I thought ‘what am I doing all this for? She is the one getting the prize!’
Immediately a voice spoke to me and said, ‘isn’t that EXACTLY what I did for you?’ Ahh. I know that voice, it is the voice of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! And yes, that is exactly what He did for me and for you.
Isaiah 53:3-5 says; He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Jesus went to hell, so we don’t have to. He was wounded and paid for all our transgressions, again, so we don’t have to.
For our iniquities, He was bruised. In order for me to walk daily in peace, my chastisement was upon Him alone.
I can walk in divine health and wholeness because of the stripes He took FOR me, by those stripes I am already healed. What an awesome Savior!
He did all that for me and for you before we were born. He did ALL THE WORK so that I could get the prize and so that you could get the prize!
Hebrews 12:2 says; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Did you know, the joy set before Him was you and I? For us, He endured the cross and sat down at the right hand of the Father…not to exalt HIMSELF to a high place…He was already in a high place, but so that you and I could be seated with Him.
Ephesians 2:1-7 says; And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
This morning I am in awe of the amazing act Jesus did for you and I…talk about FREEDOM, He has given us the ultimate gift of freedom. And He paid ALL the cost, so that we could have the prize. Remember that the next time you feel you are doing all the work and someone else is getting the prize. Remember that you are in good company and you are simply walking like Jesus walked.
Today, celebrate the ultimate freedom that Christ died to give you. Give thanks to God for that freedom and for the country we live in today. Glory to God in the highest! Thank you Jesus, for all you have done, we are eternally thankful.
Prayer for Today; Father, today we thank you for all Jesus did for us at the cross. For that we give you praise. We also thank you for the men and women who fought to keep our country free, bless them Lord and bless their families! In Jesus name. Amen.
