Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:15) by Steve Castle

29 Mar Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:15) by Steve Castle

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
.
“So shall he startle many nations, kings shall stand speechless; For those that have not been told shall see, those who have not heard it shall ponder.”~ Isaiah 53:15 (full readings)
.
Steve’s Reflections:  A great call has been placed upon the hearts of the faithful in these times of persecution against the Church.   We face today the most serious threat to date against religious liberty, the definition of family, and unprecedented access to abortion on demand supported by our tax dollars in the history of the United States of America.  Let us not forget on this Good Friday that the paradox of paradoxes has been laid before us;  God became man, a slave as it were, and became sin for all of humanity on the cross.  True death has been abolished and the victory has been won!  The cross will always be a stumbling block for the world as “Kings shall stand speechless”.  The reality of suffering remains and the temporary stain of sin still crushes upon the Church Militant as we continue to work out our salvation on earth; our duty remains to hold the line and stand in the gap.  I have found great comfort in the Suffering Servant account found in Isaiah 53 which happens to be the scripture for today (great video here).  Let us not forget the great sacrifice that was freely given by Jesus Christ; he was striped, pierced, and crushed by our sins, so that we may have life!  We are likewise being striped, pierced, and crushed by those in authority over us, but the cross and the sacrifice laid upon it means Victory.  
* Steve Castle serves on the LIFE Group board and is a regular Friday devotion author. Him and his wife Tina lead the Fergus Falls MN LIFE Runners Chapter and attend to their number one ministry; their four children. Full bio.
.
Faith Challenge: Today in Catholic Church’s across the world the tabernacles will be emptied in memory of Christ’s death and time in the tomb.  It is a powerful reminder of the power of the Resurrection that awaits us.  As we strain forward in faith and hope toward Easter, will you RUN to the empty tomb as Peter and John did?
.
Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
.
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
.
Feast Day: St. Berthold (d. 1195) Founder of Carmelite Order
.
Faith Quote:  “We adore you and bless you, Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all the churches which are in the whole world, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi

“So shall we join the disciples of our Lord, keeping faith in Him in spite of the crucifixion, and making ready, by our loyalty to Him in the days of darkness, for the time when we shall enter into His triumph in the days of His light.” ~ Philips Brooks (lyricist of “O Little Town of Bethlehem”)