RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL
THURSDAY, 26TH JULY 2018;
THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRIST’S SUFFERING
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow (1 Peter 1:10-11).
Luke 24:46-47 says, “…Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” The crucifixion of Christ was necessary for the salvation of man; salvation couldn’t have been accomplished otherwise. Our opening scripture talks about the glory that follows the sufferings of Christ. Part of that glory is the salvation of man.
Salvation is an all-encompassing word that encapsulates all that God wrought for us in Christ: life, health, wealth, prosperity, abundance, etc. He suffered for your sake. He was your substitute on the cross. He took your place that you might take His place. Your place was that of sin and death; His place was that of life and righteousness.
The Bible says, “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” (Isaiah 53:5). He was made sin for us, who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus didn’t just save you from sin; He gave you His life and nature.
When you cometo therealization of the importance of the sacrifice of Christ, then you’ll appreciate His vicarious death and appropriate the benefits of salvation in your life. Today, sin and its effects and consequences have no dominion over you. You’re free to serve the Lord and live for Him. You’re now accepted in the presence of God, all because of Jesus.
Man became separated from the glory-life due to Adam’s transgression, but as a result of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the glory has been restored. You were brought into that life of glory the moment you were born again.
*CONFESSION*
I manifest the glory and righteousness of God, because I have His life and nature in my spirit. Jesus suffered in my place; therefore, I live in the ensuing glory and beauty of His vicarious sacrifice. My life is upward and forward, and my light shines ever more brightly, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Isaiah 53:1-5 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
II Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
I Peter 2:21-24 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed.
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Romans 1:18-32 & Psalms 35-37
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Ephesians 3:1-12 & Isaiah 46