Acquainted
With His Grief
A man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief:
Isaiah 53:3 KJV
Caught in another lie, Jenna was trying
to explain her inability to stop, “I’ve tried, Mom! But it’s
like…” she paused, struggling to articulate her thoughts, “It’s
like I hear myself telling another lie…like someone else has taken
control of me, and I’m just a spectator.”
Her father’s comment brought the
sting conviction, “It’s hard to trust you, Jenna. We struggle to
believe you.”
“I know, Daddy!” Jenna said. “I
honestly don’t know why I can’t stop.” Her apparent frustration
told them that, at least in this case, she wasn’t lying.
Receiving divine inspiration her father
asked, “Do you remember your first lie, Jenna?”
“No,” came her embarrassed reply.
“That’s because of all the lies
that have followed.” He let that sink in, then continued, “Jenna,
once we get used to doing something it becomes second nature. If it’s
something wrong, any conviction we were intended to feel loses its
desired effect. When we no longer feel sorrow for our sin we have
become desensitized to its destruction. Honey, for every lie you’ve
ever told, or will tell in the future, Jesus took a beating.” He
saw this was a revelation, and added, “He suffered so we could gain
victory over the sin in our life.”
Between sobs Jenna said,
“I’m…so…sorry…Daddy!”
“Jenna, you know how you said it felt
like someone else took control of you?” She nodded.
He continued, “That’s not Jesus,
because Jesus wants to set you free, not watch as Satan holds you in
bondage. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Daddy.” came her subdued
response.
†
Our definition of an acquaintance is
someone we know; yet not intimately. We have shared no deep
connection; there is no lasting bond. Within the human definition of
today’s text there is no hope of defeating sin.
Only Someone truly acquainted with the
sorrow of our sin has the knowledge of how to defeat it. Jesus’
acquaintance with grief is unlike ours; and so is His power to
overcome!
Sin will reign in our lives until we
become intimately acquainted with the sorrow and grief of the One Who
can defeat it.
Prayer
“Take me deep enough
that I can know You intimately, Lord, then take me deeper, to where
sorrow and grief conquer sin. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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