by Rev Steve Nickodemus

A-Mazing Grace

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 53:6

Have you ever tried to find your way through a garden maze?  This one in colonial Williamsburg had me completely turned around, ending up in dead end after dead end, as I tried in vain to find my way to the center.

Isaiah tells us that life is like a maze, that over and over again we make wrong choices, go down dead ends, find ourselves frustrated and confused and lost. We are like sheep that have wandered into terrible choices, down lanes that lead to pain and death and condemnation.  And we are not going to get out of this maze on our own.  Every effort we make to escape only leads us into more disaster.

And so God has interceded.  He has had mercy upon us and sent His own Son to bear the iniquity of us all.  He has died upon a cross to take the consequences of our sin and foolishness.  He breaks through our lostness and rescues us from the very dead end that we are in.

This is grace: Jesus’ punishment for my sin.  The Son of God receiving the consequences of my wrongdoing.  The Lord having mercy on me, a lost and condemned sinner, and through Jesus’ blood I am set free.

Lord Jesus, thank you for bearing my sin and iniquity.  Thank you that you did not leave me lost and condemned and alone.  Thank you for your love, your obedience, your sacrifice.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado