A Living Sacrifice

Wounded, bruised, chastised.. these are the words Isaiah used to describe the punishment of our Lord’s crucifixion. The road to the cross was paved with unmistakable elements of His suffering. Never forget the suffering of the savior. Like grapes gathered together and crushed, the suffering was necessary to extract our refreshing. Don’t forget the price of that refreshing. Because of the suffering life came to us. His pain was our perfection, his agony was our victory, his suffering was our salvation.

If we are to be “crucified with Christ’ (Gal. 2:20) then we must also “know the fellowship of His suffering”. The grapes must be crushed before the wine can be poured out. So that we might also know the power of his resurrection. Are you willing to be a “living sacrifice” so that his glory might be demonstrated through you? The resurrection was only possible after the wounding, bruising and chastising.

I’m reminded of the words President Kennedy spoke “Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men”. I encourage you today to stop looking for a way out and start fighting to go through. Through the storm, through the trial, through the fire, through the valley, through the disappointment. Allow the crushing to bring out the refreshing that is hidden in you. Allow His glory to be poured out through you. Men who have never been tested do not know what they are really capable of. Faith that has never been tested never sees what God is capable of.