He Is Familiar With You
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was.” - Isaiah 53:3 csb
I recently learned about a man who had a close relative who needed a kidney transplant. He was an instant match because of his relationship to the patient. I am no doctor, but I am sure this is not an easy procedure, and there can be complications after donating an organ. Yet for the love of his family member, he was willing to endure the pain.
God tells us through the prophet Isaiah that Jesus is a man who knows suffering and who knows sickness. Jesus understands rejection and knows what it is like to be hated. God did not have to send His only Son to experience such things. Jesus did not have to die. Yet God chose to send His beloved Son to know all our pain, all our sickness, and all our rejection. He did this because of the great love with which He has loved us.
Today, if you feel that no one understands your pain, your sickness, or your shame, know this: Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” Today rest assured that Jesus Christ is familiar with it all. Not only does He know it intimately, He also sympathizes with you. His desire is that you share your suffering with Him so He can help carry you through it. He has been there before. He knows and understands it all. “Casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Agape,
Frank
What Are You Longing For?
Years later, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people and observed their forced labor. Exodus 2:11a
Moses was brought up in the splendor of Egypt. He had been raised by a princess of Egypt and trained in Egyptian education and culture. He spoke Egyptian, dressed Egyptian, and walked like an Egyptian. However, internally Moses knew he did not belong in Egypt. Inside, Moses was drawn to the Hebrews his true people.
C.S. Lewis said, “The fact that our heart yearns for something Earth can't supply is proof that Heaven must be our home.” Moses was not Egyptian, although he lived in Egypt. The same is true for all humans. Man has sought a greater purpose beyond what he currently experiences in his life. The Bible tells us that God has put eternity in all our hearts (Ecc. 3:11). Like Moses, man’s heart seeks belonging, purpose, and, importantly, identity.
The devil knows man and understands this seeking. He cons man into thinking belonging, identity, and purpose are found in Egypt, a type of the world. The devil lures humans into sexually immoral lifestyles, including homosexuality. Life can never be produced from a homosexual lifestyle only death and many lives have been destroyed by it. The devil promises to numb the pain with drugs and alcohol: at least you'll be happy! What a rip off drugs and strong drink are.
It is for this reason Jesus has come. God sent His Son into the world to save that which is lost. He declared, “A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” John 10:10 Belonging, purpose, and identity are found only in Jesus Christ. The word joy means to be satisfied. The psalmist declared, “In Your (God’s) presence is fullness of joy” Psalm 16:11.
It is in Jesus Christ and His kingdom that you and I will experience satisfaction not in sex, not in drugs, not in alcohol. All of those are cheap cons designed to steal, kill, and destroy the life Christ has for you. If today you find yourself like Moses, seeking something more, friend, you will only find that when you allow Christ into your life. It is only then that you will discover what you have been looking for.
“You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you” — this is the LORD’s declaration” Jeremiah 29:12-14a
Agape,
Frank