What to do about Jesus?

I struggle with worry. And sometimes even knowing that God is on the throne does not decrease my worry because, as we all have experienced, God does allow some terribly painful things in our lives at times. Sometimes I even fear what’s next- what He will allow.

Yet Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again, rejoice!“ And shortly after this in verse 6, “Don’t worry about anything…”

I’ve been trying to think about this today, how we can rejoice even when we know that as long as we are on this side of heaven, we will have troubles.

“Rejoice” is defined this way… “to be ecstatic, be euphoric, be overjoyed, be as pleased as punch, be jubilant, be in raptures, be beside oneself with joy, be delirious, jump for joy, be thrilled, be on cloud nine” (Click here for source)

Makes me laugh… how can I ecstatically jump for joy in the midst of suffering? There must be a way or God would not have commanded us to rejoice. So I think the key must be having my mind fixed on Christ, heaven, and eternity... not the here and now. That no matter how horrible our experience on earth, even if we should have to go through what Job went through… this is as bad as it’s going to get for those who have believed and accepted Jesus’ free gift of eternal life with Him, because the God who is in control loves us so much that He made a way for us to never have to experience hell though we deserve it...

“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation” 1 Peter 5:10.

That is something to be delirious with joy over for sure! 😊

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I love Isaiah 53, especially during Passion Week. We know the following verses well – “He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins…. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word…. Unjustly condemned… He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal…. “ (Portions of Isaiah 53:4-9)

But this morning a different verse jumped out at me – “…my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.” Isaiah 53:11

For many to be counted righteous.

I think that’s what so many people long for. They try to stretch the rules, make their own rules, say no rules are needed – no boundaries, no morals, no absolute truth. Yet deep inside, they know – we all know – that there IS a right and wrong, and that somehow we have ended up on the “wrong” side. We know we are not righteous. We know there is a God, and that our good deeds are not enough to make up for our bad ones.

“For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.” Romans 10:3

What is righteous? Free of guilt or sin.

But how, when we know we are guilty? “…for he will bear all their sins.” (Isaiah 53:11b) “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) “For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.” Romans 10:4

Counted righteous… washed clean, no longer stained by sin and guilt. Righteous in God’s eyes. Because Jesus, who is the only truly righteous one (never sinned), took our sin… my sin… and gave me His righteousness.

I am counted righteous… not because of anything I have done, but because I believe the truth about Jesus in the verses above.

Does God count you as righteous? He wants to… He made the way, He completed the work, but He won’t force you to accept His gift of righteousness – you must believe the truth about Jesus. Ask Him for forgiveness, and He will count you as righteous – washed clean. Then live your life in obedience to Him.

Don’t reject Him any longer, when He is offering you the very thing your heart longs for. To be counted righteous.