Glorious Spectacle!

“There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. We've all done our thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong on him, on him. He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn't say a word. Justice miscarried, and he was led off--and did anyone really know what was happening?

He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people. They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man ( threw him in a rich man's grave – emphasis by writer). Even though he'd never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn't true. He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many. He took up the cause of all the black sheep” (Excerpt from Isaiah 53—Message version).

As she was reading Isaiah 53 one more time describing the suffering of the Lamb of God, she couldn't but imagine like in a bad dream this one moment in time. She wondered what was going on in the Father's mind at that time. The answer came, I did it for you all! I love you so much! I did it to have me a holy people who would obey and follow my ways. I did it to build myself a glorious church without spot and blemish that will be the salt and light of the world. I wanted to share all that I have with you. I wanted to share all that I am with you. I wanted to share my glory with you. I did it all for my glory. I love you! I love you! I love you!

Do you love him enough to lend a helping hand and share what you have with someone else in needs? Do you love him enough to suffer unjustly without complaining? Do you love him enough to humble yourself and serve him and others wholeheartedly? Do you love him enough to love sincerely someone else that looks different than you? Do you love him enough to always consider others better than yourself despite their shortcomings? Do you love him enough to put away all pride, vanity and wordly desires to carry his burden? Do you love him enough to do all you know to do for his cause even when misunderstood? Do you love him enough to keep your mouth from gossiping about and slandering others? Do you love him enough to suffer shame and rejection of man for his glory? Do you love him enough to put him and his words first in your life? Do you love him enough to be made a spectacle for him like he was for you on the cross?

Father did it because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. As I have found the Lord dealing with me on many of the issues in the questions posed to you earlier, I am writing this not to make anyone ashamed but to admonish you as children of the most High God. Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord. Do not be ashamed to suffer as a Christian (2 Timothy 1:8; 1 Peter 4:16). These words outlined in 2 Timothy 2:14-16 can serve us all, “Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” His words are, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels” (Marc 8:38; Luc 9:26).

Do you understand why this glorious spectacle happened and what your role is now as a member of the body of Christ? Listen, his Spirit is now being poured out on all flesh! Only as we go through life wanting to always do the will of the Father, as we go through life wanting to always let his love and compassion flow through us to others, that we will be able to see, experience and be the glorious church he is coming for and turn the world upside-down, just like in the book of Acts. There are no denominations, but one body, one blood, one Spirit. All of us must learn to flow together in love and unity. Do you want that glorious experience?

Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it! (Luke 11:28)

Marie Monaus