Prayer To Get Fame and Blame Put In The Right Place
Saturday July 18, 2020
PRAYER TO PUT FAME AND BLAME IN THE RIGHT PLACE
A couple of days ago on one of my news update notifications that flash across my phone screen came this news:
As the U.S. and other countries rush to find a vaccine, there are now concerns Russia is hacking research labs in the U.S., Britain and Canada. The three nations say the hacking group is part of Russia’s intelligence service and claim they are attacking academic and pharmaceutical coronavirus research labs. The hacking attacks are not to disrupt research, but to steal intellectual property or information.
We all want credit for good things and to blame others when things go wrong and that's certainly how governments operate in our competitive world. We see a similar scenario played out in personal lives, in companies – anywhere human beings interact with one another.
Our God turned things upside down when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to live a sinless life and then to willingly lay down His life and suffer horrible torture and death by crucifixion on a cross - not as punishment for His own sins rather on our behalf.
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
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.
Isaiah 53:4-6
Amazing words and even more amazing sacrifice. Today we want to respond to that great love and that amazing upside down way of taking blame and giving forgiveness and dignity.
Heavenly Father, we hardly know what to say when we think about what You've done for us. You are the perfect holy God and yet when we humans messed up it was You who took the initiative to bring about a solution so we could have life with you forever. Thank you for the gift of Jesus who took our pain and suffering, allowed himself to have our sin and it's punishment laid on Him, and died in our place. He who was above all humbled Himself to the lowest place so we could be raised up to new life. Our hearts are filled with gratitude.
Greater love has no one than this,
that someone lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
Thank you so much for this great love that is just way beyond anything we can understand. We want to receive it with thanksgiving and live this new life fully as we try to recognize all that it cost You to win it for us.
But God had special plans for me even before I was born.
So he chose me through his grace. It pleased him
to let me see and know his Son so that I could tell
the Good News about him
Galatians 1:15-16
Lord, as You took our sin, our shame, our blame, so now we want to make your fame known across the face of the earth. Thank You that we have the opportunity today to share the good news with others about what an awesome God you are and what a wonderful father and faithful friend You are to each one of us who give our lives to You. Empower us today, simple ordinary people who aren’t really much in this world, but through whom you’ve chosen to make your good news known.
And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed
to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
Colossians 3:4
Help us to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ, to walk well before You today, trusting that as we allow the Holy Spirit to make Jesus alive in us, His glory will be revealed for all to see. We want Jesus to be famous throughout the world because His love is better than everything else. Amen
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