The heavenly Father said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.” But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.” And now the Lord says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength— he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” - Isaiah 49:3-6

Dear Jesus, you sat outside Jerusalem and deeply contemplated what was about to happen to you. Your life was in your own hands. You could slip away quietly to Galilee and avoid being betrayed, tortured, and crucified. But you ran toward the trouble instead of away from it. You contemplated your prize, my very soul, and you waited anxiously to sacrifice yourself to save me. Help me to contemplate your great work of love today and to spend less time doing and more time thinking deeply about you and your deep commitment to save me. I'm tired of doing. I want to be more than I do. Come and be the Savior of my soul and captivate my thoughts. While I must do many things throughout this day, help me to be in that other place where you were, thinking deeply about your cross. AMEN

Jesus' entire person is engaged for us. Our worthy response is to be engaged as much as possible for him.

Additional Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9, Luke 9:43-51 Hebrews 12:1-3