Prosper ~ to become strong and flourishing; to cause to succeed or thrive
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. ~John 1:1,2,14
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ~John 3:16
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. ~Psalm 107:19-20
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. ~Isaiah 55:11
Jesus, God’s Son, is the Word made flesh. Yes, flesh, like us; lived here with us.
God loved us so much that He gave to us His only precious Son, His Word. He sent Him to heal us and deliver us from our destructions.
And so His Word went out from His sending, to accomplish His always and only good pleasure.
His Word, His grace-filled Son did not come back to God with nothing to show for what He went for.
His Word, His Son did not stand before God, arms extended, empty-handed palms up with a timid shoulder shrug as if to say “I tried, but…“
His Word, The Christ, prospered in the reason for His going out, fully achieving the purpose for His sending.
WE are His reason, His purpose. WE are His loved, the object of His good pleasure. He sent us deliverance from destruction and from the power of darkness, rescue from distresses. Forgiveness, healing, a promise of eternal living with Him. Full redemption and His inseparable presence. All of this through salvation, love, grace, obtaining true unbreakable peace.
Jesus did not fail in the fulfillment of His promise, His rescue; He did not short the payment required for our shortcomings. All He gave was perfected to completion and finished; He said so Himself in His last breath, on the cross. (John 19:30)
God’s word never fails. (Joshua 23:14, 1 Peter 1:23,25)
It accomplishes what He pleases and prospers in the thing for which He sent it. His word is always obedient to Him.
Jesus is the Word made flesh. Jesus flourished to the uttermost in giving all of us the fullness of life with the fullness of HIS life.
Do you believe this?
We’re inundated this time of year with messages of gifts and giving; it feels a little overwhelming at times, maybe even a mixture of bitter and sweet. But the beauty of what God has done is He gave first, asking if we would believe the truth of His giving, believing in His Son and if we believe it, then accept Jesus as our very own personal gift, to have as ours forever. Accepting His gift means we give our self to Him—all of you for all of Him. It’s actually the most and the best we could ever, ever give and He alone is worthy of such!
When you’re ready for this gift exchange, it could sound something like this:
God, I thank You for the wonderful gift of Your Son Jesus Christ. I thank You that He died for me, took all my sins and guilt as His own and that I am wholly and utterly forgiven. I believe He was raised to life and this gave me my new life with You. So I give You my whole self now and receive Jesus as my own Savior and the Lord of my life. Thank You for saving me and making me brand new in You!
(Yes, it does feel really personal; that’s the whole intention of His invitation)