MEDITATIONS FROM ISAIAH

 

June 14, 2006

Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7

 

“You are Mine” Isaiah 43:1

 

Can there possibly be any words, my soul, that could reassure you more in times of doubt, pain or anxiety? To know without a shadow of doubt that the Sovereign Creator and Controller of mankind claims you to be His very own has to be the ultimate comfort for the aching soul. There is a very real sense in which all men and women belong to God for they are His because He created them, but for you, you are His because He has redeemed you. This makes you special to Him because He has paid a price for you. Your Savior redeemed you with His own blood and now has the perfect right to claim you as His own—His redeemed one.

He formed you, redeemed you, called you by name, and loves you, all because you are precious in His sight. He will be with you during the rough times and promises that the trials you face will not overflow you. In short, soul of mine, you have been honored by Him. Do not begin to think it is because you are anything special in yourself or that you have anything you can offer Him, no, it is because He loves you, and because He loves you, you can be consoled in any situation by His promise, “Fear not, for I am with you.”

It is no wonder that this passage of scripture has become one of your favorites for its wonderful truths are repeated and confirmed on every page of the bible. The words of Jesus validate God’s promises in the Old Testament and makes them yours. Because of His death and resurrection you have been made a king and a priest in His kingdom, one of the redeemed whom He calls special, one to whom He promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

 

There’s a wonder that transcends all wonders,

It’s depths I cannot comprehend;

I stand in it’s glory, it’s greatness, it’s splendor,

And worship my Savior, whose love knows no end.

 

That wonder, my God, is nothing but grace,

‘Tis nothing that I could have done;

I stand in Thy glory, and gaze on Thy face,

Rejoicing in Jesus with whom I am one.

 

Accepted by Thee, this is the wonder,

Unfathomable condescension;

I stand in this wonder, and worship and ponder

These riches of grace, eternal redemption.

 

O God, ‘tis not that I accepted Thee,

For I was blind and dead in sin;

But chosen in Thee, Thy Spirit dids’t draw me,

Repentant, I cried, O Lord, let me in.

 

So now I am raised and seated with Christ,

Beholding His wonderful face,

Blessed with all blessings, a pearl without price,

Accepted in Jesus, a trophy of grace.

 

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” Titus 2:11-14.