God’s desire for my life

 

Nearly everyone makes an APPEAL to God at some time or another. We want protection, healing, wisdom, justice and compassion and when all else fails “all we can do is pray.”

Appeals in the OT are earnest requests, even pleading for something from somebody, either God or a person in authority or a position to grant the request. In the NT, the meaning is the same: to appeal to someone for help, however, there are a few verses that indicate God is appealing to His people, not for help but to do what He wants done. Sometimes those appeals are worded as if they come from the human author, yet the desire of God is indicated in their requests. Some examples:

God appeals to His people to be totally yielded to Him in Romans 12:1. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

He also appeals to us to pray for one another and to live in harmony:

Romans 15:30. “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.”

Romans 16:17. “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.”

1 Corinthians 1:10. “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

As His people, He uses us to make His appeal to others, pleading with them to make their peace with Him through faith in Jesus Christ:

2 Corinthians 5:20–21. “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. As I consider the wonder of who God is and what He has done, I realize that being His child is a wonderful privilege with a primary responsibility. “I am His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that I should walk in them.” His appeals are important. He saved me and when I cooperate with Him, then my life is not in vain as suggested by 2 Corinthians 6:1: “Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.”

Certainly that cooperation includes standing firm for what I believe as Jesus’ brother Jude writes: “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”

It also includes being in His Word, in prayer, listening, doing as He says in the ways that He outlines and always with His glory as my source and goal. His plan for my life is far above all that ever entered my mind, yet following His plan in a fallen world is not easy. Even so, because it is from God who loves me, His appeals are far more ‘appealing’ that any alternative!

 

The Gospel is the Power of God

Only the Gospel meets all my needs. If I feel good, the Gospel brings deeper joy and explains why I can be this way. If I feel the weight of my foolishness, the Gospel lifts it. If I am angry at someone, it puts my perspective on forgiveness. If I feel unloved, this good news from God banishes that negativity. If I am proud, it humbles me. If I am low, it lifts me up.

In my electronic calendar, I’ve set a monthly reminder to read Isaiah 52-54 so I will think again of the plan of God to redeem sinners, the plan made long ago and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Today’s devotional directs me to read this passage from those important chapters. It is talking about Jesus and the Gospel . . .

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? (Isaiah 53:1–8)

Jesus obeyed the law to establish righteousness for us, but that was not enough; justice against sin must be satisfied, so Jesus became sin for us. He had none of His own, but took upon Himself all our sin and as our substitute received the wrath of God for our transgressions. He died as my substitute, assuming responsibility for my sin against Him.

Because of Jesus, God declared that my sin is washed away and I have been pardoned, forgiven, even made holy in the sight of God, now bearing the righteousness of my Savior. Not only that, He gave me a new role in life. I am His ambassador, a citizen of heaven living here on earth to share this amazing message with others . . .

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:20–21)

Jesus, You became sin for me that I might share in your righteousness and be reconciled to God the Father. This good news overwhelms me, delights me, and often brings me to tears as I realize it was necessary. I am sad for the pain You suffered, yet overjoyed that death could not hold You — You rose from the grave and gave me, and all who believe in You, the wonderful gift of eternal life — for which I am eternally grateful!