Do You Know How Much You Are Truly Worth?
Good Morning Friends,
Today’s scripture from Isaiah starts out with the general principle that God created you and me and because of that has a covenant with us that offer a series of promises. For example God promises that we will not fear because the love of Jesus, the Word made flesh, casts out all fear. And relevant for Holy Week, He promises to redeem us and buy us out of slavery. He promises to call us by name, as Christians, knowing all about us. He promises that He is our Father and we His children that we belong to Him and He belongs to us. He promises to be there in good times and bad as the Lord of our body, mind and spirit. And being the way, the truth, the life, our Savior, He promises to see us as precious throughout eternity, for as He lives, we live. Yes God loves His creation, He loves you, values you, so much that He gave His son to make good His promise, purchasing us at a price beyond imagination so that we might experience God and God experience us. Know how special you are. Embrace the mystery of the unimaginable price paid so you might have a whole and lasting life. Know, in the light of these promises kept, your great value. Jesus’ love on the cross has set us free from a Satanic Prison. Do You Know How Much You Are Truly Worth?
Scripture: But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, 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 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. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’, and to the south, ‘Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.’
Isaiah 43:1-7 (NRSV)
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.’ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling-place, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.
Psalm 91 (NRSV)
and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’
Matthew 28:20 (NRSV)
Message: Today’s psalm reminded me of a scene from The Lord of the Rings when the Eagles save Frodo and Sam at Mount Doom after the Ring has been destroyed. And the obvious question is why the Fellowship didn’t just fly into Mordor on the Eagles in the first place. And I guess that taking the Eagles might have worked but, when you think about the risk, some secrecy was smarter. The relative secrecy of a small child being born in a manger compared to a conquering King is the storyline. The small wins the day. Indeed Tolkien knew scripture and interestingly today’s scripture that holds the images of the Eagles is also the Psalm that the devil quoted in tempting Jesus. Friends, when you have the fate of the world hanging in the balance you want to make sure the job gets done right. So this week there is drama in the waiting that helps us appreciate the value of the salvation we are receiving. Here it should become clear to us that the way Jesus approached it is the best solution to our biggest problems. What was lost by Adam is found in Christ. It is the unmerited favor of God, his love, sacrifice and life in the form of grace. Friends, as Isaiah points out, life is valued by our God for He created life, and it is especially valued by Jesus Christ who gave His own life as a sacrifice on the cross that we might live. There is no viable short cut. And this week we have the drama of the story we are to claim as our own. We are to live it out as we face the uncertainties of life and I think like Psalm 91 have it teach us that when God leads, our future is clear. Still there is darkness under the wing of God. Even in His protection we must choose between the counsel of the world and the counsel of God. Friends, there is no substitute for the wondrous love of Christ. Know that it is God that rescues us from bondage. On this Palm and Passion Sunday rejoice in the mystery of the coming week and know that the challenge of life is not without a champion. Believe that God loves you despite who you are, what you feel and think, and despite what you do, because you are His creation and He desires for you to trust in Him. God values you and me. Meditate on that this week.
Pray that we rejoice in the real value of love. Pray we know the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Pray we understand the value of a friend. Pray we recognize the danger of pride and the value of humility. Pray we realize the real value of commitment. Pray we value our labor. Pray that God deliver us all. Pray that God help us all rise above our problems so we might see. Pray that He answer our prayers and make our paths straight. Pray that in times of trouble God will send angels to take charge and help us. Pray we recognize the value of Godly upbringing.
Pray that when we honor God He will honor us. Pray that we see salvation on the road ahead.
Pray that this Holy Week bring God’s presence into our lives. Pray that His presence gives us rest. Pray that His presence gives us courage. Pray that His presence gives us comfort. Pray that our prayers transport us to a place of security and shelter. Pray that like today’s Psalm we sing with confidence that God will provide. Pray that we recognize that evil seeks only power because it has rejected love and our salvation is in knowing that God is love. Pray that we would know where to find refuge, what to say to honor God…know the comfort of His Word and know that we are required to give hope to others not just receive it. Pray we know just how much we are loved. Pray that His presence be with us always.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 