The Flavor of God - Part 2

  

Bathed in Righteousness

Isaiah, the prophet, wrote moving passages that truly reflect the wonderful flavor of God. His prophetic and emotional expressions describe a suffering Messiah who will one day save the world. Passages from the Old Testament Book of Isaiah are some of the most beautiful words ever written as proven in the following Scripture:

"Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary" (Isaiah 40:31 NASB).

In Hebrew this verse means, "we cause our wings to rise, lift our wings high, like the eagle". Widely read passages expressing this premise include: Isaiah 1:18; 17:14; 26:8; 40:3; Ch. 53.

Isaiah describes Jesus as the righteous Lamb who sacrifices Himself. Unlike man, Jesus was born righteous. Under divine circumstances, His mother, a righteous young girl, gave birth by the power of the Holy Spirit which allowed Jesus to be born both physiology and spiritually righteous.

Pondering

In today's culture it is impossible to live righteously. We are born with a sin nature, while Jesus is not; He is God. Flawed in our human nature, it is unnatural for us to achieve a righteous life. How does God expect us to live a righteous life?

Coaching

Our course of life should allow Jesus to lift us into the open sky on holy wind.  We draw righteousness from His strength (Psalms 84:8-12) and running the good race will not tire us, nor will life's difficulties cause us to faint. Through Christ's strength, we soar higher in righteousness. Yet, it is impossible for us to achieve righteous standards alone.

Righteousness is defined as "the legal act of God, by which He pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and treats them as righteous in the eyes of the law as if we conform to the laws demands" (Easton's Bible Dictionary).

We seek God's flawless standard through Jesus' strength. In addition to pardoning our sin His justice proclaims all legal demands of the law met. We are free from sin in God eyes. The person justified through Christ is entitled to all advantages and rewards from perfect obedience to the law (Romans 5:1-10). If we confess our sins, He is Justice who forgives.

Jesus prays immediately after His baptism (Luke 3). The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus in the form of a dove, and God speaks and opens heaven (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:21). It was as if the heavens declared the glory of God (Psalms 19:1) and of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit appears in the physical from of a dove harmless and gentle. Jesus receives God's highest praise (Philippians 2:9-11) because of His righteous standards.

Why is God content with His Son? God is greatly pleased because Jesus is obedient in carrying out the Father's mission (John 5:19; 8:42). Not only is the Lord obedient Jesus humbles Himself in order to accept the cross (Philippians 2:5-8). Similarly, the Holy Spirit bestows the same qualities or "fruits" of righteous standards on us as followers of Jesus (Galatians 5:22-25). The flavor of God is hard to miss.

All three Persons of the Godhead are present at Christ's baptism. The Father praises His Son... The Son obeys in baptism... and the Spirit descends on the Son like a dove. Isaiah's beautiful prophetic words foretold that the Spirit would rest on the messiah (Isaiah 11:2).

"For a child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6 NASB).

The Spirit of the Lord empowers Jesus after rising from the waters of baptism and after He prays with wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and fear of God. The Holy Spirit does the same for us as we rise in difficult waters and if we surrender in prayer. Remember, Jesus is perfect righteousness; we are not.

Challenge: As Christians, we are righteous in God's eyes as if fulfilled by the law because of Jesus. If we sin, recognize wrong, and confess, He sees us as righteous.

"At night my soul longs for You, indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; for when the earth experiences Your judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness" (Isaiah 26:9 NASB).

Nothing is more accurate in our world today than the wisdom of Isaiah. What the righteousness of God demands, the justice of God executes. If we choose to stay in sin as a child God, we are deceived by the evil one. Eventually, all will stand before God's throne and answer for choices we made and our life-purpose. What will He say to us, "Well done, faithful servant.... or, I never knew you." Judgment is about the hearts intentions. What are your hearts intentions?

Are you looking for praise, glory, or respect, or are you serving God because you love Him, and others? Only you can answer that question... the choice to fall in love with God is strictly a private decision.

There is nothing to compare the richness of God's love, blessings, and protection as we soar like eagles, on the wind beneath wings of a Holy Dove.

What is holding you back? I challenge you to fall down on your knees today; taste the sweet flavor of God's righteous standards.