Radically Happy

MIC Check

Today’s Most Important Challenge is…

• Growing deeper with Jesus
• Together

Immanuel Approach Memo

Concluding 4/8 IAM: Disastrous

I am… heartbroken.

My plan
To use myself as bait
To draw my enemies to Jesus
Appears to have backfired

One person killed another
From a different tribe
And is now wracked with guilt

(And also bleeding
Possibly to death)

Jesus asked me to tend them.

And somehow
I know what to do

I look at the man left alive
Sternly

“You came here to kill me.”

He nods
A fresh wave of sobs
Consuming him

“Give me your sword.”

He stops crying
A look of horror crosses his face

He looks at the man he killed
At his own bloody hands
At me

He starts trembling
But he reaches for his fallen sword
Pushes it to me
Closes his eyes
And waits

I look in the face of my enemy.

“You deserve to die
For what you have done
And for what you intended”

He nods
And grimaces
Expecting a killing blow

I look to Jesus.

He nods

I stand over the man
Raise my sword
And say:

“So do I”

I plunge the sword
Into my own side
Blood and water pours forth

Killing me
Healing the man

I fall
Jesus catches me
And brings me back to life

I turn to the man.

Who has been washed clean
Of blood
Shame
Guilt
Anger
Hatred
Fear
Isolation

His face
Is full of wonder
His heart
Is filled with forgiveness

He falls to his knees

“What must I do to be saved?”

I hand him the sword
Hilt first
Pointing toward the man he killed

“Go thou
And do likewise”

He looks to me.

Then at Jesus
Then at the man he killed
Then back to me
And nods

A look of grim determination
And incredulous joy
Warring across his face

I leave him with Jesus.

And look for the next victim
I have trapped

Knowing that Jesus
Will be there
Whenever we need Him

Finit

Reflection

I feel…

• Humbled
• Broken
• Responsible
• Alive
• Jesus

Scripture

“The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will hover over Jerusalem and protect it like a bird protecting its nest. He will defend and save the city; he will pass over it and rescue it.”
Though you are such wicked rebels, my people, come and return to the Lord.
I know the glorious day will come when each of you will throw away the gold idols and silver images your sinful hands have made.”‭‭

Isaiah‬ ‭31‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬