• You may have thought that it would never disappoint and then you woke up one morning and realized you had been much too idealistic. After taking stock of your feelings and being a bit more realistic, you are now free to judge rightly (with God’s framework). He loves unconditionally and He understands our human frailty (we are but dust). Because He created us in the image of God, there is so much potential and each one has inmeasurable value. Yet the “sin nature” of our souls can turn some into ruthless bullies. What will never disappoint is His ability to make us whole. When we have been forgiven, we can also forgive others.- Teresa #sufferingservant

Isaiah 52: 13-15, 53: 1-12 (NIV)

The Suffering and Glory of the Servant

13 See, my servant will act wisely;

  he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him–

  his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being

  and his form marred beyond human likeness–

15 so he will sprinkle many nations,

  and kings will shut their mouths because of him.

 For what they were not told, they will see,

  and what they have not heard, they will understand.

1 Who has believed our message

  and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,

  and like a root out of dry ground.

 He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

  nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,

  a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

 Like one from whom people hide their faces

  he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain

  and bore our suffering,

 yet we considered him punished by God,

  stricken by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,

  he was crushed for our iniquities;

 the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

  and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

  each of us has turned to our own way;

 and the Lord has laid on him

  the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,

  yet he did not open his mouth;

 he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

  and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

  so he did not open his mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.

  Yet who of his generation protested?

 For he was cut off from the land of the living;

  for the transgression of my people he was punished.

9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,

  and with the rich in his death,

 though he had done no violence,

  nor was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,

  and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,

 he will see his offspring and prolong his days,

  and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

11 After he has suffered,

  he will see the light of life and be satisfied;

 by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,

  and he will bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,

  and he will divide the spoils with the strong,

 because he poured out his life unto death,

  and was numbered with the transgressors.

 For he bore the sin of many,

  and made intercession for the transgressors.

Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.