BEHOLD THE SERVANT - ISAIAH 53 Tune to "MY FAITH HAS FOUND A RESTING PLACE" CM/DOUBLE Words by JIM BYRD
1. Who hath believed Thy Word O Lord, To whom is it revealed? For darkness is within our hearts, And truth from us concealed. Thine arm O mighty God of grace, Is strong to seek and save; Come Spirit and reveal that One, Whom God the Father gave.
2. Like to a tender plant He grew, A Root out of dry ground; Behold the Servant of the Lord, In Him all grace is found. No form nor comeliness had He, No beauty could we see; And yet there dwelt upon this earth, One of the Godhead three.
3. With all the sin of His own sheep, Upon the Servant laid; He suffered at the hands of God And satisfaction made. ‘Twas so ordained by God Himself, Before the world began; To save the people of His choice, By Christ, the Son of Man.
4. It pleased the Lord to bruise His Son, For us the Savior died; His soul the off’ring for our sin, And we are justified. Now lifted high upon His throne, The Lord of everything; Let sinners saved by sovereign grace, Sing praises to the King.
SCRIPTURE READINGS TODAY: MORNING: LUKE 4:14-32 EVENING: JOHN 17:14-26
"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Corinthians 15:33). "Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships, (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character" (Amplified Bible).
Do you want to be disappointed? Look at others. Do you want to be discouraged? Look at yourself. Do you want to be encouraged? Look to the Lord Jesus Christ. –copied
GOD’S WORK GOES ON "And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die. So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old" (Genesis 50:24, 26). God used Joseph to be the salvation of the Jewish nation and to provide abundantly for all the people in and around Egypt. Joseph was a kind and forgiving man, faithful to the Lord, an extraordinary leader, a beautiful type of Christ in a multitude of ways, but he died. His death did not, however, disrupt the purpose of God. While faithful servants of the Lord die, the cause of God does not die with them. I’m reminded of words engraved on a monument in Westminster Abbey, "God buries the workmen and carries on the work."
Joseph was depended upon by so many. His brethren looked to him for guidance, his family relied upon his care and provision and the Egyptians leaned upon his wisdom, but Joseph was dispensable because the purpose of God is never dependent upon any man. The loss of Joseph was no real loss to God’s work or to His people. Many years passed after the death of Joseph and before the birth of Moses; and during that interval God used unnamed and unknown people (unknown to us, not to God) to fulfill His will and keep His truth alive. The Lord is never without means to do His work. The fact is, we are all a bunch of unknowns who are being divinely used to continue the progress of the gospel in the world. The purpose of God moves ever forward, right on schedule, and nothing happens that causes even the slightest disruption to the accomplishment of His will.
Before Joseph died, he also said "And God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which He sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob" (verse 24). Years later the Lord brought Israel out of Egyptian bondage and into the land of promise. Child of God, never be doubtful as to whether the Lord will fulfill His decrees. Christ died to satisfy justice and put our sins away. He has been exalted to the throne of universal authority and rules over all in order to bring to pass the eternal purpose of Jehovah. The cause of God is safe. His will is being precisely carried out according to the manner He has ordained. The hands of our omnipotent Redeemer turn the wheel of providence, and He is directing all things to their appointed end. He who is the Salvation of His people will keep His truth alive in the world, visit every true Israelite with the gospel and bring them out of spiritual bondage and into the land of eternal delight. –Pastor Jim Byrd
ENCOURAGING WORDS "As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you" (John 15:9). The Savior was going to depart from His disciples and those men were desperately in need of an encouraging word from the Master. Knowing the heaviness of their hearts, the Master gave them this divine cordial. May these words continue to soothe troubles souls. Christ loves His people as the Father loves Him. –Pastor Jim Byrd
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