The Final Goal: A Bad Call
Read: Isaiah 53:3-9
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all. – Isaiah 53:6
Football games are not decided just by goals, but often by refereeing decisions. In the 1978 World Cup, when Brazil played Sweden, Brazil’s Zico headed a goal from the final corner only to find that the referee had already blown the full-time whistle. It would have been the winner, but the match ended 1-1. Many observers
believed the referee had ended the match prematurely.
But it is not just football history that is affected by bad decisions. At the very centre of human history is the worst decision ever made—to crucify Jesus Christ. Jesus lived a perfect life on earth before God, yet He was killed like a criminal.
Thankfully God knew this would happen. In fact, it was for this very reason Jesus came to this earth. By His death “the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). God was completely in control, even though it looked at the time as if Jesus was a failure. He actually made the necessary sacrifice for us to be able to have forgiveness and friendship with God. On the outside, Jesus’ death looked like a careless decision by the authorities. But it was actually God’s decision to send Jesus to die so that we could have life. Let’s not make a really bad decision and ignore what Jesus did for us. —Chris Wale
The only perfect human being was crucified for our sins.
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This is my command— be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (v.9).
READ: Joshua 1:1-9
One of the saddest accounts in the Bible is recorded in the Old Testament book of Numbers (chapters 13-14). It’s the story of the Israelites who had previously been miraculously delivered from a life of backbreaking slave labor in Egypt.
This generation had witnessed the 10 plagues in Egypt and God parting the Red Sea (Exodus 7-14). For nearly 2 years, they journeyed through the wilderness following a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. And every day God caused manna and quail to fall from the sky (Exodus 16). He even kept their clothes from wearing out as they endured the elements and strain of desert life (Deuteronomy 8:4).
That’s impressive!
And now, as we tune into Numbers 13, we see that God finally had His people on the verge of conquering the Promised Land—and they wouldn’t do it. Outside of Caleb and Joshua, the leaders refused to step up to the challenge. They said that the Canaanites were too big and powerful. They told the people they were like “giants” and referred to themselves as “grasshoppers” (vv.31-33).
As a result, God made them wander aimlessly around the wilderness for 38 years (within a few miles of their God-given destiny) until their generation died off.
How tragic! God had rescued them and led them to a new life in a new land. But they refused to take a risk with Him.
If there is one thing that the stories of the Bible tell us again and again, it is this: Following the God of the universe into the purpose of our lives always involves meaningful levels of risk (Joshua 1:6-9).
Taking a bold and gutsy risk is not the absence of faith. Sometimes it’s an expression of our faith in Him. —Jeff Olson
Where is God calling you to take some risks with Him? What has been holding you back?
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July 4, 2010
READ: Galatians 4:21–5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free. —Galatians 5:1
In 1776, the 13 British colonies in North America protested the limitations placed on them by the king of England and engaged in a struggle that gave birth to a brand-new republic. The infant nation soon adopted that now-famous document known as the Declaration of Independence.
Almost 2,000 years ago, the Lord Jesus cried out on the cross, “It is finished,” proclaiming the believer’s “declaration of independence.” All of humanity was under the tyranny of sin and death. But Christ, the sinless One, took our place on Calvary and died for our sins. Having satisfied God’s righteous demands, He now sets free for eternity all who trust in Him.
Paul wrote, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13). Romans 8 assures us, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus . . . . For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (vv.1-2). Galatians 5:1 urges all who have been redeemed to “stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free.”
We are thankful to God for any freedom we enjoy in a nation. But above all, believers everywhere can praise Him for the freedom that is found in Christ! —Richard De Haan
Our greatest freedom is freedom from sin.
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