Friday Fire Starters–Good Friday 2013

Friday Fire Starters are simple ways to kick start your time alone with God. Here’s today’s Good Friday suggestion.

Read Isaiah 53:3-7 out loud, very slowly and thoughtfully.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:3-6

Note the phrases that jump out at you. Note the Our and We and Us references. Note the references to Jesus’ suffering–crushed, smitten, afflicted, etc.

Reflect on these words and phrases. Reflect on their connection to you and me. Consider the prophet Isaiah, 2700 years ago, seeing how Jesus’ death would matter to us on March 29, 2013.

Then, pour out your heart to God. Open wide your mouth and let the praises flow for what God has done for us. Thank him, bless him, honor him, love him and surrender to him on this Good Friday.