The Cross is the Reason for the Cradle

Tonight, I heard one of those sermons that just kind of "hit ya".  Even though I have never summarized a sermon here, I am going to.  I want to always be able to find it.  David Strain was preaching from Isaiah 53:10-12.   He opened with "the cross is the reason for the cradle".  Jesus was born to die for sinners.  Period.  Verse 10 talks about how God's plan was satisfied.  He sent his Son--It was the Father's love that sent him.  Jesus accepts His plan.  (John 6:37; 17:12; 10:17)  In verse 11 the Servant is satisfied.  Jesus accomplished our justification and found it worth it.  He sees God counting us righteous---and He is satisfied.  Christian, He bought and paid for us and delights in us.  We are His beloved.  Verse 12 shows that we are satisfied.  He died that we might live and even now He is at the right hand of God the Father interceding for us.  He pleads our name before the Father's throne.  We are Christ's reward--His crown and glory.  We get to participate in His victory, His enthronement.  The glory that belongs to Him enfolds us to.  Because of the cross, we have new life.  We have a new status--one that is justified, our guilt is gone.  And we have a new destiny. One of security and rest.  Every need of the human heart is satisfied in Jesus.  Every. Single. Need.  David challenged us by asking:  Are we prepared to look to Jesus for the satisfaction our heart craves?  He is our all in all.

I knew everything David said tonight.  It was just that tonight I needed to hear it.  One of the many, many, many reasons I love church.  Tomorrow a dear friend and mentor buries her husband, and a friend her dad.  We have three sweet friends whose tiny ones are battling for their lives with cancer.  But we have Hope.  Because of Baby Jesus our destiny is secured.  I love the verse in "In Christ Alone":  From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.  In Christ alone our hope is found!  

This morning the children in our church got a very special treat.  They were able to watch a drama of the Christmas story.  What a great visual reminder of the love of our Father.  He came in a manger, to die for us.nal breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.