Isaiah 53:10 – For it pleased God to crush him.
Many of us may be familiar with this verse but how many of us have experienced the joy and PEACE it offers once its full meaning and implication is understood.
Throughout scripture the coming and SUFFERING of Jesus was not only prophesied, but recorded as the events unfolded. We have a detailed account of the atrocities that Jesus suffered for us – Isaiah 53; The Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. Yet the Bible tells us that God was PLEASED (some translations read ‘it was God’s will’) to allow Jesus – His only Son – His beloved – to suffer, experiencing SHAME, REJECTION, SORROW, DESPISEMENT, SMITINGS, AFFLICTONS, PIERCINGS, OPPRESSION – even DEATH! All this PLEASED our Father God and might I add it also pleased Jesus to subject Himself to such cruelty!
WHY?
They were aware of the fruit / the benefits of His sufferings:
* You and I would be saved/ reconciled to Him
* We have freedom in Christ Jesus
* Anything we ask in Jesus’ name according to His will would be granted
* Every good and perfect gift is now made available to us
and the list goes on (ponder and list the things available to you through Christ).
remember CHRIST SUFFERED SO THAT YOU AND I COULD HAVE THEM!
NOW .. how do you and I fit into and apply this today? I don’t know how many of you would like or even agree with this but her goes….
What about your sufferings? Have you ever considered that it may actually PLEASE God to make you suffer! OUCH!!
Personally, before the slightest discomfort or affliction comes my way I start crying like a baby, begging God to take it away (sounds familiar – hey admit it you do it too!)
And I have suffered plenty – in the fullness of time I will share – nothing compared to Christ but certainly more than I cared to or thought that I deserved (HA) anyway, sufferings all the same.
Never once, while going through these painful situations, did I stop to consider that it might have pleased God or was His perfect will for me suffer! After all, why should my sufferings please Him? Umm, the same reason why it pleased Him to allow Jesus to suffer – for the fruit or benefits that suffering bring:
* we are made more into the image of Christ
* we acquire the fruit of the Holy Spirit, namely endurance, patience, long-suffering (you know, the ones we don’t mention much).
* we have a testimony or can bear witness for Christ and be an encouragement to others who are suffering as well.
Regardless of the source of your suffering/ trial:
(1) God appointed
(2) self-induced
(3) evil desires / intents of another
(4) an attack from the enemy
it pleases God to allow you to go through these trials and testings because in them we can all prove Him.
We prove His FAITHFULNESS, His LOVE, His MERCY, His FORGIVENESS, His LOVING-KINDNESS, His GOODNESS, e.t.c.
An aspect of God’s character is always revealed in every situation we go through.
So as the song writer states, ‘whether in the valley where countless dangers hide or in the sunshine where peace abides’ my encouragement to you is … live to please God!
Love God faithfully
Pursue Him passionately
Be blessed!
Love always
Donna
