The Cost of Servanthood

A Future for God's People
Turn to Me and Be Saved

Isaiah 53:4-6 (The Message)


 ^2-6The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
   a scrubby plant in a parched field.
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.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
   our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
   that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
   that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
   Through his bruises we get healed.
We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost.
   We've all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong,
   on him, on him.

For Reflection
Because you are a Christian, do you find yourself at risk?  In many parts of the world to confess your Christianity is to invite death.  Not many Americans face this artifact of following Christ as graphically.  The risks may be more subtle.  God is carrying our burden.  God is beside us to guide and comfort.  In what way will you, as servant of God, give your life for many?

Pray
for the servants of God. Pray that you accept the consequences of serving Christ gratefully.  Pray that God will lead you away from hurtful actions and toward reconciliation.