By His Stripes

As I was driving to work the other morning I couldn’t help but notice the sky. It was a very solid and deep grey; it looked as though nothing could penetrate it and somehow seemed very threatening. But across this rather foreboding sky there were red stripes, as the sun was just coming up on the horizon. As I saw it, the words ‘by His stripes we are healed’ came into my mind, and I began to ponder them anew.

On the cross Jesus paid for everything, all our sin, and all the sin of those who’ve sinned against us. It was paid for with every stripe that He took, every agonising step, carrying the cross, as well as the humiliation and pain of the cross itself. Jesus endured all this in obedience to the Father so we can be healed; body, soul and spirit. The problem is we’re so often unwilling to really appropriate this into our lives. It’s not easy to be really honest about our sin, the attitudes we have and judgements we make. And it’s even harder to forgive those who, in their own sin, have caused deep hurt and pain to us.

The way of the cross is not an easy path to take, as it goes against the ways of the world and our carnal nature. But it’s the only way that we find true healing and lasting peace. When we’re unwilling to allow Jesus into our hidden sin and hurt, the inner struggle we face can be enormous. And we can cause hurt and misunderstanding with those we love. But, if we become yielding, open and obedient to Jesus, the struggles cease. I would want to encourage you to take the time to read and absorb Psalm 103, a psalm of praise for the Lord’s mercies.
We’re fast approaching Christmas, where we celebrate the birth of Jesus. But maybe it’s also a good time to think about the reason that He was born. To think again about the price that He has paid for sin, the sin of all mankind.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for sending Your Son Jesus to die that might be forgiven. I ask You to search me, and know, and show me, any areas of my life where I’m not yielded to You. My desire is walk in obedience, yet I know that all too often I fall short of this. Please help to keep my feet on Your path, in Jesus’ name. Amen.