But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. Isa 53:5

I pray that you had a wonderful day of worship as you gathered at your local church on the Lord’s Day. This week, Christians all over will reflect, remember, and meditate on the events leading into Easter Sunday, Resurrection Day. I pray that you will pause throughout this week and give thought to the final works prophesied many years prior to the completion of God’s plan to save the world from sin. We all should reflect on how Jesus hung on Calvary’s Cross and suffered, fulfilling all the prophecies that had been spoken for hundreds and hundreds of years and becoming the ultimate sacrifice for the redemption of mankind. The prophet Isaiah said, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa 53:6). Jesus agonized and suffered the Cross for the sin of the world. The agony that Jesus endured on the Cross was not so much the nails that pierced His hands and feet, the crown of thorns that pressed upon His brow, the stripes that laid open His back, nor the spear that pierced His side, but the punishment for all the sin of the world. The scripture passage reminds us that the agony of the Cross was that “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” As Jesus hung on the cross, God the Father punished Him for the sin of the world, a substitute for the punishment of you and I. “The wages of is death” (Rom 3:23) and Jesus died for your sin and mine. The sins of the world were laid upon Him, and the Father struck Him and punished Him for all our sins so that we would never suffer the punishment that we so deserved. He became a curse so that we could be blessed. And though He had never sinned, He was pronounced guilty, so that we could be pronounced innocent (2 Cor 5:21). My friend, reflect on the agony of the Cross, remember the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and meditate on His obedience to suffer in our place, “with His stripes we are healed.” By His suffering, all who believe in Him are freed from the penalty of sin and shall also live with Him (Rom 6:7). Dear friend, remember our Lord’s sacrifice and thank Him for so great a salvation. Father thank You for Your love and the great salvation that is by and through the suffering of Jesus Christ. I give You all my praise for such a wonderful and great salvation. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Ps 22:3

Difficulties can sometimes make God feel at a distance. Times when we are desperate, overwhelmed by pain and suffering, alienated and alone. There are times when we need to feel a touch from heaven, a touch from God. The scripture passage reminds us that God “inhabitest the praise” of His people, even when in difficult times. Difficulties can distract our attention from offering praise unto God. Difficulties can distract our attention to ourselves, and the Presence of God is unnoticed when we need Him most. As Jesus hang upon the Cross, He was in the most desperate and difficult time. His body desperately strained to endure the torture, beating, and nails of the crucifixion. The pain and suffering overwhelmed Him as He carried out His Father’s will. In His dying moments, all His friends had alienated Him and fled to leave Him alone. Yet in these last moments of the Cross, Jesus looked beyond His desperation and difficulties to cry out unto His Father, not for help, but for hope. He cried to the Father to forgive His accusers, those who assaulted Him and crucified Him. Jesus said “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). He cried to the Father, who is holy and worthy of all praise “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit” (Lk 23:46). My friend, when difficult and desperate times seem to overwhelm you, look to God with hope, offer Him your praise, and He will help you (Isa 41:10), deliver you, and “supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps 46:1). Dear friend, no matter what you my face, look to the Lord and offer up to Him your praise. He is worthy! Father thank You for Your love and the hope salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Ps 61:2

God wants to lead you from survival to revival. God wants to draw you near to Him (Mt 23:37) even when you are scattered and afraid. He invites all to come unto Him, to know Him, and delight in His Presence, and He will give you rest (Mt 11:28). For those times when we seem to lose our way, grow impatient, bored, fatigued, and fainthearted from distress and disappointment, God wants to revive your heart and restore your faith in Him. The scripture passage reminds us to “cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed.” When your heart is faint and your strength has failed, “Cry unto the Lord” (Isa 19:20), for He will save and deliver you. Prayer opens the gates of heaven and God hears the cries of His children. Even with tear filled eyes and overwhelmed in affliction “cry unto Thee…then Thou wilt hear and help” (2 Chr 20:9). God diligently awaits to hear the cries of His children that we may know His faithfulness to “lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” My friend, God is faithful to hear the cries of His children, even when we have drifted, and He seems spread to “the end of the earth.” Look to Him and hear Him say, “Come unto Me all ye who labor and are heavy laden, I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). He will give you rest from your fears, fatigue, and fainthearted distress to revive you by His Spirit with a renewed heart, a heart of faith, and not fear. He will walk along the way with you, to restore within you, a faith-heart, full of the joy of His salvation. Dear friend, look to the Lord and He will renew your strength and revive your heart. When you seem overwhelmed and fainthearted, trust in Him and He will cover you with His wing (Ps 61:4). He is nearer than you could ever think or imagine. Father thank You for Your love and Your faithfulness to hear me when I cry. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.