“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”1
Yes, no other than the King of kings and the Lord of lords has handpicked us. And given us a task to fulfill. We are his servants—“You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.2
Knowing your identity in Christ trumps all trouble and concerns. Everything pales in comparison to having the assurance that you have an everlasting hope.3 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.4 There is a promise attached to our seeking God first.5 God cannot demean his name nor his word by not fulfilling what he says, for he has exalted above all things his name and his word.6 Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.7
The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.8
“Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. . . . Because you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you . . . . everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”9
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.10
Notes:
1. Isaiah 42:6-9
2. Isaiah 41:9-10
3. Philippians 3:7-11
4. Psalm 9:10
5. Matthew 6:33
6. Psalm 138:2
7. Proverbs 16:20
8. Psalm 103:6, 11-14
9. Isaiah 43:1-7
10. Galatians 1:3-5
