Isaiah 53:2 “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.”
I was sitting reflecting on yesterday’s service and I had to laugh when thinking about retelling some of my Dad’s story, which impacted my story. I doubt anyone was unable to detect how proud I am of my Dad or more aptly put how proud I am to be his son, I enjoy being called “Steve’s son.” I always have. I laughed because his career choice after leaving the world of professional golf although respectable was very low paying and he often times had to work multiple jobs to support us financially. It struck me that my hero in life (Jesus is my one hero above all, hands down, my dad knows this and is glad of that fact), my dad, who I choose as my best man for my wedding was not a guy who would normally stand out. He is not built like Arnold Schwarzenegger, was not rich like Donald Trump, wasn’t the president of the bank, he normally drove a station wagon (one of them had two different color doors at one point) instead of a Corvette and I think you are getting the picture, in other words I had to stop and laugh because my hero in this life is no one that “when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” Yet even with his flaws, I see nothing but my hero in life and strive to be like him. What was it about him that would make me overlook his lack of wealth and position? It was his demeanor, it was hope filled and positive. His ability to give himself away, even when we were poor he continued to give to others who were poorer than we were, he would bring others groceries and then take us to our grandparents to eat instead! It was that part of him that attracted me so much to him.
In fact for many of my younger years I would play golf at every chance I got, I would fill up two 5 gallon buckets with old golf balls, take a few clubs and ride my 10 speed down to the soccer field that ran into the girls softball field and I would hit every one of those balls and then walk around the fields for the next hour picking them all back up only to walk back to the end of the field again and hit them all over again. By the end of the summer I had lost every single one of those balls in the woods and tall grass off to the side! I know the guy who mowed the grass used to curse me when he would mow up the balls I had missed in the middle of the field! I did all that because I wanted to one day pick up the dream where my Dad left off, I for years wanted to go pro for his sake and live the dream that he gave up. I was a better golfer at 14 then I am now, which kind of depresses me! What happened to my pursuit of that dream?
Truth be told, I turned 15. Girls and being in the “in crowd” became more attractive to me then sticking with something that took great effort and toil. Oh, I still loved golf and played a lot, but not with the intensity that I did when I was 11 through 14. Something else had captured my heart and the desire to be known and accepted outweighed the pursuit of a long term dream. I couldn’t handle it if people looked at me and didn’t “desire” me. How sad. I’m grateful God gave me a second chance.
Isaiah 53:2 describes Jesus way before Jesus was born on that night in Bethlehem. It pretty much tells us that His physical demeanor and position in life is not going to really impress us. He was born virtually unnoticed. He grew up virtually unnoticed and then when He began to walk among the people and teach suddenly everyone noticed. Why did they notice? He taught in such a manner that they couldn’t not listen… “By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,…” Isaiah 53:11 What did He teach? How did get rich in 30 days or less? How to win the hottest date by the weekend? No He taught the truth, He taught the gospel message. He had compassion and gave of Himself like none other before or after Him…”Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:12 He was a man with hope in God and lived it. That attracted people.
Jesus had no problem making Himself part of the lives of the people. He ate with those that no one would eat with. He touched those that no one would touch. He loved those that no one would love. He chose those who no one would choose. He didn’t need to look like Brad Pitt to be recognized. He didn’t need to have the money of Bill Gates to win friends. He didn’t need the fame of Michael Jordan to be placed on a pedestal. In fact He looked absolutely awful that day on the cross, naked, beaten and bleeding, yet today we can’t take our eyes off of that cross. In fact the guards gambled for even his last piece of clothing, He had nothing left, yet today we know that He holds everything in His possession (Colossians 1:16). In fact that day of crucifixion, insults were being hurled at Him from every corner and the only one that called out His name was a thief next to Him on a cross of His own, yet today we know that He has been “highly exalted…and given a name which is above every name…” Philippians 2:9
We can learn from many around us that you don’t have to be the best looking or the smartest or the most skilled or even the best connected, but rather be one that lives a life of hope rather than bitterness. Be one that leaves a good taste behind when you leave a room, when you leave your school, when you leave work or the store. You’ll be surprised at the number of lives you are impacting even though you may feel that no one notices you. In actuality bitterness is what gets you lost in a crowd because bitterness gives up on life while hope seeks life.
We have the greatest of all hopes, our Lord Jesus Christ. Let not your hearts be troubled any more.
No questions this week. Just do what it takes to restore the hope of Jesus Christ within you. Leave Bitterness behind…..we continue our march toward the resurrection!
Grace and Peace
Progress and Joy
Pastor e
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