Monday after Sexagesima Sunday
Posted on February 13, 2023 by under
Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-10 (NKJV)
50:4 “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.
5 “The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away.
6 “I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.
7 “For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.
8 “He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.
9 “Surely the Lord God will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up.
10 “Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God.”
Devotion
“I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled that which Isaiah prophesied. He who knew no sin, against whom there could be no just condemnation, nevertheless gave Himself over to the worst abuse, degradation, pain, and death so that His “innocent suffering and death” would atone for the sin of the world. All who believe in Him now have His perfect life replacing our sinful record before the judgment seat of God. We are counted, through faith, as sinless, not guilty, holy, and perfect.
We are now entrusted with confessing that which God says we already are. “Repay no one evil for evil” (Rom. 12:17). And, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). Blessed are you when you are thus humiliated, as our Lord Himself says, “rejoice … great is your reward in heaven” (Matt. 5:11-12). God grant us patience to endure the hostility of others, that we may thus confess Christ and all that He bore in His flesh for our sake.
Prayer: O Lord God, Who seest that we put not our trust in anything that we do: Mercifully grant that by Thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
