A Heart Untroubled

So, following on from my post a few weeks ago regarding the 'divine exchange' I want to think about give and take.  On the cross Jesus took a whole lot of things from us, but in return he gave us some things in return and while most Christians mentally assent to this, they do not walk in the benefits of this exchange.  Let's consider some of what Jesus took for us and what he gave us in return. Isaiah 53:4-5 (KJV) Surely he hath borne our griefs , and carried our sorrows : yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions , he was bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. I want to focus today on that first statement - Jesus took our griefs!  The Strong's concordance states that the word used for 'griefs' means: malady, anxiety, calamity ( an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster);  disease, grief, (is) sick(-n

I haven't forgotten that I am working through some things to do with the Great Exchange, but I'm interrupting that theme because I was encouraged this morning as John (my husband) preached about the fact that God hasn't forgotten any of us, and felt like it would be a good encouragement for someone today. In Acts 1:21-26 we read of how the disciples replaced Judas after his death: So then, we must choose his replacement from among those who have been with us from the very beginning, from John’s baptism until Jesus’ ascension. And, like us, he must be a witness of his resurrection.” They proposed two candidates: Joseph, who is also called Barsabbas the Just, and Matthias. They all prayed, “Lord Yahweh, you know the heart of every man. Please give us clear revelation to know which of these two men you have chosen to be an apostle and take Judas’ place because he renounced his apostleship to go where he belonged.” They cast lots and determined that Matthias was the Lord’s choi

Having not long celebrated Easter, I have been thinking a lot over the last few weeks about the cross, and what happened there.   I have been considering what Jesus accomplished and what it means for us to live in light of the resurrection.   You may have heard the expression 'the divine exchange'.  It's a great way to express what happened. It talks about all that Jesus gave to us, and all he took from us, and it's this I want to think about this for a couple of weeks on my blog. Today the aspect that I want to mention is that Jesus became forsaken for us so that we would be accepted.  He became alone so that we would be included.  He was left so that we would be rescued.  The older I get, the more I realise that Christians don't walk in very much of what God has purchased for us.  Since the pandemic lockdowns started I have heard so many people say how lonely they are.  I do understand that being isolated from everyone else in person is challenging, but we profess