Redeemed for Joy

A devotional prayer as I reflected on 1 Peter 2:18-25.

Lord, You called me, and Christ suffered for me. My Lord stood under unjust judgment, slandered as an evildoer though He committed no sin. He was reviled but did not revile in return. God, teach me to walk in His footsteps.

Jesus wept blood because Your will was hard to bear. He agonized over the suffering ahead. Suffering I deserved for my transgressions. Yet my Lord knew that beyond the cross lay glory and favor. I had sinned and deserved to endure the inglorious beating. Yet, He endured the scorn, nailed to the tree for me. A symbol of shame He turned into salvation.

My Savior, You were tortured yet did not threaten Your tormentors. No deceit was found in Your mouth, for You spoke the Father's words. Betrayed by one of Your own, handed over to unjust judgment. How, Lord? How was this just? How could the Sinless One be condemned to death? There was no spot or stain. Nothing worthy of death.

You bore the punishment for my sins. You, who knew no sin, became sin for me! The chastisement I deserved You took. You carried my guilt in Your flesh. Your pierced hands bore the pain for my sinful desires. The wound in Your side for my anger and gluttony. My guilt weighed upon You. The yoke was heavy. The punishment severe. And You did it willingly, knowingly, for me.

You hung on that tree. You bore my sin so that with Your death, my sin would die. That I may die to sin. But You did more than erase my sin. Lord, You made me alive to righteousness. You showed me what is good, pure, lovely, praiseworthy, and of good report. You put Your law in my mind and wrote it on my heart. Your Spirit cries out in me, "Abba, Father." By His wounds I was healed, am healed, will be healed. The mortal wound of sin found its healing balm in Your Son's precious blood.

Lord, You found me in my self-deception. Lost in my desires, chasing fleeting pleasures. I plunged headlong into the cravings of my wicked heart. I was searching for something, something to satisfy my insatiable desires. The counterfeit joys of hedonist passion were poison. I was ensnared, a trap around my neck, choking myself.

I stepped into the traps You warned me about. I saw the darkness and yearned for it. I wanted the pleasure of sin. I wanted the taste of the forbidden. I went in the paths that lead to death. I rushed headlong on the path of death. I willingly ate of the fruit. I was the fool!

Yet You came.

You rescued me. Why? I had wandered straight into the enemy's snares. Like prey too blind to see the rusted trap beneath the undergrowth. A bear trap snapped shut on my leg, tearing flesh and bone. The fool that I was! I had stepped into it willingly. The pain was searing. Immobilizing. And yet, in my stubbornness, I lingered. I was embracing my own destruction. I played with death. I danced with ruin. And I called it freedom. I was broken and bleeding from wounds to myself and to others. Ignorant. Defiant.

Yet You found me.

You pulled me out of the choking dark and bound up my wounds. A skilled physician. Your compassion was not hurried. You were patient. You knelt beside me in my pain. With steady hands You cleansed what I could not. Patiently, tenderly, You restored me. Even when You rebuked, it was gentle and compassionate. You did not break the bruised reed. You did not let the faint ember be snuffed out.

For years, You’ve trained me to walk in Your footsteps. You have guided me on righteous paths. You know how quickly I wander. How easily I am distracted. How inclined to my own way. Yet, You lead me beside quiet waters, restoring my soul.

If only I wouldn’t be like a foolish sheep, always looking down.

When I stumble in my restless pursuit of hollow desires, I find myself wandering in the shadows, cold and empty. But each time, every time, I lift my eyes, there You are. Your light breaks over me, warm as dawn spilling over fields of golden light. In that moment, the ache subsides. The fullness of joy rushes in. Rejoicing in Your life drowns out the hollow echoes of my old cravings. Your light is life. And in it, I am made whole.

You are the One I had always wanted. The desire of my heart was You. You let me taste the emptiness of worldly pleasures to show me that life is more than these. True life is found in You. You are my joy. You redeemed me to enjoy You forever. I am redeemed for joy. And You are my joy. You have visited me with Your presence. In Your presence there is fullness of joy. You have never left me nor forsaken me. You never will. Faithful to all Your promises, You are good, Lord.

My heart, rest in Him. Rejoice in Him. Abide in Him. Nothing can snatch you from His hand. Bask in the light of His glorious grace. He is good.

Father, teach me to follow You. Instruct me in Your ways. Lead me on a level path. Let me never forget the joy of Your salvation. God, You are good.