Day 335: Big Brother

Colossians 1:1-23; Ezekiel 25-26; Isaiah 53

I love the picture that Paul paints of what a growing faith in Jesus looks like: "have all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives. Then you will live a life that honors The Lord, and you will always please him by doing good deeds. You will come to know God even better. His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy." Growing in wisdom and understanding. Living a life of honor. Doing good. Knowing God more. Having strength and faith to endure everything. And complete joy. Wow, if that's the way we really lived, if Christians all over this country and our world embraced this type of life, everyone would want to be a follower of Jesus!

This part of Ezekiel is haunting! God passes judgment on all these nations that celebrated when Jerusalem was destroyed and God's people were taken captive. If God was mad at his own children, then he is furious and ruthless with other nations. Basically, God shows that he isn't going to let his people be mocked for long. He will be like the tough older brother and defend and knockout anyone who messes with his followers (even if they don't deserve that kind of protection).

It is absolutely amazing the story that is told in this chapter of Isaiah. It is a perfect picture of Jesus Christ as he suffered and died for the world's sins. One verse talks about how by suffering, this servant, Jesus, will learn true obedience to God. Part of me thinks that that applies to us as well. By our suffering, in our struggles, we decide, and ultimately learn the ability, to obey. Serving God when everything is going well is easy. Doing it when life is a mess or we've lost our hope, that's when faith and obedience do the most growing.