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 according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.1
Indeed it takes grace to acknowledge that we need a Savior. Tragically, we are so bound by the world–the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life.2 So strong is this appetite that we spend much time and resource in activities that try to make a good impression, desperately seeking the approval of others. We think that by churning enough good with the right hand compensates for the evil that the left hand does. Unfortunately, God’s holiness cannot justify it. And our spirit knows it; thus, we are in constant turmoil. We resort to whatever soothes or desensitizes momentarily. We desperately need the peace that comes from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
It matters not what impression others have of us; nor what we think of ourselves. Our past nor present doesn’t define us. The only statement that matters is the truth that comes from the mouth of God.
Speaking through Isaiah God declares, “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.3
Behold my servant whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him.4
“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 thigs have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”5
But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “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 the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holly One of Israel, your Savior. . . Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you. . . . everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”6
We have no boast with this act of God’s mercy. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. . . .”7
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.8 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.9 AMEN!
Notes:
1. Galatians 1:3-5
2. 1 John 2:16
3. Isaiah 41:9-10
4. Isaiah 42:1
5. Isaiah 42:6-9
6. Isaiah 43:1-7
7. John 3:16-18
8. Psalm 9:1-2
9. Psalm 9:10
