How do we see serving? How do we imagine heaven? Do we imagine heaven as the angels serving us as we put our feet up? On earth, we all imagine our greatest joy is found in being served by others.
How delightful does spending eternity serving sound to our ears?
Let’s live today demonstrating we believe one day we will be filled with gladness and rejoicing in the reign of Christ. Let’s live in such a way that others will ask us about the hope that is within us; for our joy, and God’s glory.
The work of the Messiah is transforming. Isaiah prophecies that God will transform deserts into lush gardens. Animals have a new nature so that the lion lays down with the lamb. And, God will transform people so that they are no longer rebellious, but righteous and holy. Isaiah 60, and Revelation 21 are passages prophesying that God will transform Jerusalem into a glorious city. She will be a sparkling gem upon the earth.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)The well-being Jesus offers is to have peace with God. The healing Jesus offers is healing from our rebellion. The Palm Sunday people are disappointed.But, those who see Jesus carrying their grief, sorrow, and sin, are not disappointed. Jesus makes us righteous. He makes us right before God.For the Scripture says, “whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
Is not Israel God’s first love? Is she not an apple in God’s eye? Or, was all that wonderful talk from God just words so He may use her to bring about the Messiah, and now that the Messiah is here, she is of no value to God. As God is making much of the Gentiles, and raising up all the nations, Israel cannot help but think that their God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, abandons her.
The Messiah of Israel is amazing. The descriptions of Him in Isaiah tell us that He is a great champion and ruler who reigns with perfection. The reason God reveals Him in the Scriptures is so that we get to know Him. And, in knowing Him, we welcome Him as King with worship and adoration.
God does not want us to despair. God wants us to rejoice. He knows we may never live up to His standards. He loves us as a Father and He sent a solution to our need. Jesus is the answer. He dies so we may live. Jesus bridges the gap between our failure and God’s standard of perfection. He takes our sin and gives us His righteousness.
The gospel is the good news that we are made perfect in the Messiah of Israel. The picture Isaiah reveals to us is a picture of a Messiah we may fall in love with. Think about how the Messiah is a complete answer to all of our needs. He comes to bring light into our darkness. He replaces our sorrow with gladness. He rescues us from the clutches of our enemies. And, He restores creation so we may live in abundance and peace forevermore.
God is orchestrating all of the world’s events to bring about the redemption of His people. Every morning that our feet hit the floor when we get out of our bed in the morning, we may know that God is working all things for good for those who love Him and are called by His name.
And, at the end of the age, we will stand before His throne exclaiming the glory of God’s amazing grace! For, we know, that there is nothing we have done to deserve every event of the world being orchestrated for our good. God’s grace is bigger and grander than our feeble minds may imagine!
“For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.'"
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