Nov 05 2024

Today's Bible Verse

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

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In this verse from Isaiah 53, we have a reminder that Jesus has provided us final, spiritual healing, which, unlike our current physical bodies, will last for all eternity. In today's Bible study, we will consider what spiritual healing means and how it relates to what Jesus physically endured on the cross.

Isaiah connects Jesus' wounds with our sins. Jesus is "wounded for our transgressions… bruised for our iniquities, and chastised for our peace." Jesus' physical wounds represent our sin. Because of this, in the final phrase "with his stripes we are healed," it makes sense to understand the healing as spiritual healing. The result of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection was that we were set free from the bondage of sin, from the very things that Jesus endured leading up to the cross, like bruises and wounds. Enduring those things before His death meant that they, too, would be forever defeated by His resurrection.

Spiritual healing is even better than physical healing. This is because the world around us and our current bodies are passing away. We will have new bodies (2 Corinthians 5:3), and there will be a new heaven and Earth (Revelation 21:1). However, spiritual healing lasts forever (John 10:28-29). This means that if we are struggling or feel as though we will never be able to live up to the standards of the Bible, we can repeat this verse, knowing that Jesus has healed us and will help us live for Him. He has forgiven our sins once and for all.

If you are praying for physical healing, we have no better proof that God is a healer than our own spiritual transformation. Seeing how He is making us more and more like Him each day should give us confidence that He cares about our physical bodies and has the power to heal them. If He cared enough about us to die for us on a cross, He cares enough to listen to our prayers for physical healing. When we keep physical healing and spiritual healing in the right perspective, we are able to experience life in Jesus and glorify Him for being a God who loves to heal His people.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, I am so grateful for my salvation. Jesus, thank you for enduring all of the suffering and pain and shame of the cross for me. Thank you for healing me of all my spiritual iniquities, for covering with righteousness, and calling me your own. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Nov 04 2024

Yesterday's Bible Verse

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.:

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Yesterday's Bible study

In this verse from the Sermon on the Mount, a collection of Jesus' teachings found in Matthew, we learn about how we are supposed to treat our enemies. At first glance, it can seem pretty counterintuitive! We are not supposed to treat them as they have treated us. Rather, we should love them, be good to them, and pray for them. Today, we'll talk about why this is so important.

What comes into your mind when you read this verse? Several hurtful people flashed through my mind, and the thought of showing them love didn't feel so good in my heart. I felt like if I decided to show them love, that's like letting them get away with how they treated me—like I'm saying it was okay. How am I supposed to bridge that feeling with Jesus command to forgive?

I believe it begins with an honest truth: No one gets away with anything. The Bible says that God is just and that He will not overlook our pain. It also reminds us that we will reap what we sow … if we sow seeds of meanness, we will eventually reap them. This truth can help us forgive because it reminds us that justice is not something we should exact from each other; it is God's job to make sure that all sin debts have been paid. In fact, they already are.

Jesus paid for every sin when He died on the cross. He has covered every iniquity in you and me once and for all. When we refuse to forgive, it is practically saying that Jesus' death on the cross was not a big enough sacrifice for sin. Jesus' death covered your sins—but also the sins of the many, many people who will harm you in your life. If those people come to Him and ask for forgiveness, Jesus will gladly forgive them.

We know this because He has forgiven us. We have harmed God just as other people have harmed us, and yet He forgave us. People will hurt us, deeply, painfully, but when we use those instances to show grace, love, and mercy, we are helping them understand who Jesus is and reminding ourselves of the grace that He has already shown us. Indeed, it is only because of the forgiveness we have received that we are able to pray for, do good for, and love those who have hurt us.

Yesterday's Prayer

Dear Lord, please help me to forgive those who have wronged me. I don't want to be someone who seeks vengeance. Instead, like Jesus, I want to be an instrument of reconciliation and love. Help me to remember how Jesus has forgiven me, and to show that same mercy to other people. I love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.
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