The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
This benediction is spoken over our congregation, over me, each and every Sunday. As each Sunday I have heard, listened to, and received this benediction, I had never once considered how it was that the Lord could speak these words over me, by what means were they secured for me, and at what cost to him.
My dad shed much light on this for me as he preached yesterday at one of our church's Holy Week Services. He said that I can only hear and receive this glorious benediction from the Father because Christ heard and absorbed the grave malediction from that same Father, his true and eternal Father. In order for a holy God to speak those words over me, he must speak much different words over his Son:
The Lord curse you and cast you from his presence; the Lord turn his face from you and bring judgment upon you; the Lord let his wrath pour down upon you and bring enmity between you and him. (*dad's quote, reprinted with his permission:))I had never considered the cost like this. In fact, as I have thought much over the past few days, I have realized that most of the time I live freely, lavishly, abundantly, and securely in the benefits of Christ without giving much, if any, thought to the cross, and to what it cost my God and Savior to win them for me there. What has been freely given to me, was not really free at all. It came at a great, incalculable, and unfathomable cost to my Savior, Jesus Christ.
My Savior was betrayed, that I the betrayer, might be forgiven.
My Savior was cast out of the city, that I might be brought into the city of God.
My Savior walked the way of death, that I might walk in newness of life.
My Savior bore the weight of the cross, that my load might be easy and my burden light.
My Savior wore the crown of thorns, that I might receive the crown of righteousness.
My Savior was bruised, that I might be healed.
My Savior was broken, that I might be made whole.
My Savior was held up naked and ashamed, that I might be clothed in his righteousness and the shame of my nakedness might not be seen.
My Savior's prayers were met with silence, that mine might be heard.
My Savior was left alone, that I might have an intercessor.
My Savior was mocked, that I, the foolish one, might be esteemed.
My Savior who longed for a drink, received none, that I might never be thirsty again.
My Savior was covered with the filth of my sin, that I might be made clean.
My Savior was crushed under the weight of sin, that I might be set free from its power and influence.
My Savior suffered that my suffering might end.
My Savior absorbed the wrath of God poured out for all sin, that I might drink from the bottomless cup of his grace.
My Savior, though innocent, was declared guilty, that I might have spoken over me "there is no condemnation in you."
My Savior was abandoned by his Father, that I might be adopted as his son.
My Savior was forsaken by his Father, that I might call him, "Abba, Daddy", and that this Daddy might say to me, "I will never leave you or forsake you."
My Savior was cast out of the presence of God, that I might draw near to the throne of grace.
My Savior was consumed by darkness, that I might walk in the light of life.
As another pastor, Patrick Lafferty said, "My Saviors greatest horror, is my greatest hope!"
This week has been such a call to me to consider the cross and to count the cost, not of what it will cost me to follow Christ, but what it cost him to draw me to himself.
It is my prayer this week that the Lord will change me, that instead of so flippantly enjoying the gifts of God, I will focus my gaze upon the cross of Christ. I pray that by holding the gifts of God up against the dark backdrop of my Savior on the cross, that they might appear all the more beautiful and all the more glorious to me. And that that beauty and that glory might consume me in such a way that I am lost in wonder, love, and praise!
No comments:
Post a Comment