July16, 2009

“He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant, but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right. He won’t tire out and quit. he won’t be stopped until he’s finished his work — to set things right on earth. Far-flung ocean islands wait expectantly for his teaching.” Isaiah 42:3-4 The Message

How would you describe God …?

The bruised and hurt attract him. The disregarded and insignificant never escape his affection. The tired and dropouts find new strength to continue. The world we live in dismisses the bruised and hurt  … ignores the insignificant … and blames the dropouts for their struggles. Not God … He looks for ‘em … He finds ‘em … and He gives ‘em new life .. hope .. healing .. affection .. affirmation .. and tons upon tons of unconquerable love. He knows that a hurting heart often cries for help by blaming Him first .. or accusing Him of ignoring their pleas. Jesus could have picked the best and brightest of Can’t-miss  … Sure-things … and Born-winners. But he didn’t … He chose men and women like you. You can be admirably accomplished and feel absolutely alone on the inside. You can have it all by the world’s standards and be worn out. You can possess everything and yet wander through each day feeling like a forgotten orphan. But God … doesn’t get tired … doesn’t quit … doesn’t stop .. and doesn’t drop you once you realize that He knows literally everything about you. And Jesus … knows what every bruise in your life feels like … knows what it is like to be all alone …  and knows that it is His strength .. His breath .. and His Finished-Life that will make you whole inside and out. So … bring Him all your complaints .. your loneliness .. your bruises .. your failures .. your starts and stops .. your worn out efforts .. your last breath .. your faintest hopes .. and anything else that is inside you today. “He won’t tire out and quit” when it comes to you. It only takes a moment … 

“Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, ‘God has lost track of me, He doesn’t care what happens to me’? … He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.” Isaiah 40:29 The Message

Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)