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By Rev Don Rivers
There are many who can talk a good story, but the numbers thin out when the time comes to walk the walk. Our actions speak volumes. When we have a difficult road before us to walk, how do we face it? As we head toward Easter let’s take a look at the road Christ walked for us. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We have all heard them, the talkers, they can tell stories with the best of them. But when it comes to putting your money where your mouth is, their performance is less than advertised. It is one thing to say yet another to do. There are many phrases that come to mind about people whose actions fall short of their words. That leads me to believe that there are many that prefer to talk about it rather than do it. The comments I read on social media seem to prove my point. Don’t just talk about it, do it!
Truly it isn’t others that we need to look at, it is ourselves. Are we someone others can count on? Do we talk a good game but our follow through is lacking? Without following through with actions consistent with our words do we fall short? When people watch how we live do they see a life that matches what we say we believe?
In racing it is pretty hard to hide behind your words. At some point you have to start the race. During the race it will be apparent to all if you were just blowing smoke or you really had something for the other teams.
This has been on my mind this week as I remember the road our Savior walked that one faithful Friday. He came and taught us who he was. He showed us many miracles, healing the sick, raising people from death. He asked only one thing; believe in me.
Many have followed Him along that road, dedicating their lives to His teachings, meeting the same fate, death for the cause of Christ. It is a rare occurrence for someone to lay down their life for something they don’t believe in. A few of us are willing to die for the truth. Look around and ask yourself, what am I willing to die for? The list is probably pretty short, if there is a list at all.
One thing that amazes me about Christ is that he was willing to die for you and me regardless of whether we accepted Him or not. He walked the road foretold by the prophets so long ago. Isaiah writes;
ISAIAH 53, NIV
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah tells us of the suffering and death that Christ would experience for our transgressions. He wrote this over 600 years before Christ walked on the earth. These verses reveal the difficulties Christ would face during his time here on earth. Do you know what I find is the most amazing thing about this? Christ knew this and he came anyway.
Christ knew the road that needed to be walked so that our sins could be forgiven. He knew the pain and ridicule he would face. He knew the death he would endure. He came anyway. I asked a question earlier, what is worth dying for? Christ considered you and I worth dying for.
The most amazing words in the Gospel are “He came”. Christ didn’t run and hide; he didn’t refuse to walk the road that needed to be walked. He came, He suffered, He died, and He rose again.
I would ask you to read these words of the prophet Isaiah this week and consider all Christ has done for us. Ask Him for forgiveness. Ask Him to come into your life and help each of us walk the road we need to be taking. He will provide the strength, courage and wisdom we need to accomplish what He has planned for us to do. Don’t just talk about it, start walking down the road with Christ alongside.
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.
