May 9, 2011
” … I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That’s how much you mean to me! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.” Isaiah 43:3-4 The Message
What does God see in you …?
… Everything! It’s just that you are too well aware of the bruises you’ve inflicted and the ones you are carrying. When you were overlooked or disregarded along the way, you thought God wasn’t looking. You were wrong! When you overlooked and disregarded others along the way .. He was looking then as well. From God’s point of view there was only One way to set things right: Sell the whole world to get “you” back! That should energize the rest of your life knowing that God “sold” the whole world for you. And not only that: He “traded creation for you”. He didn’t look back .. didn’t flinch at the deal .. hasn’t regretted one moment of His “trade” : You! Families have been scattered east and west .. torn apart by sin .. torn apart by broken people trying to make things whole with broken-hearts .. and torn apart by all the limitations of living in a fallen-world. God has a pattern of telling us how far He will go .. has gone .. and will keep going to return and restore us into the full weight of “bearing His name” in our lives. Don’t be afraid: I’m with you … Is there any more comforting words than God’s Spirit whispering this truth into your heart? Are you one of the scattered? Are you one of the sent-ones sent to collect God’s scattered children? When it comes to your life, God didn’t hesitate with his creation-making-Son. He traded for you and for everyone who “bears His name” and depends on His name for their everyday life. That’s just a glimpse into what God sees in you? You’re worth it! The Lord doesn’t say these things in order to make you “feel” insignificant .. unwanted .. or overvalued. He declares how much you are worth and then pays infinitely more than you can imagine. Jesus wants you back today .. He wants you to live unafraid .. He wants you to step out into today with just how much you mean to Him. When God traded for you .. He traded for everything that is included with being you. What about you..? What do you see in Jesus for your life today? It only takes a moment ..
“So don’t be afraid: I’m with you. I’ll round up all your scattered children, pull them in from east and west. I’ll send orders north and south: ‘Send them back. Return my sons from distant lands, my daughters from faraway places. I want them back, every last one who bears my name, every man, woman, and child Whom I created for my glory, yes, personally formed and made each one.” Isaiah 43:5-7 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Creation-Traded Followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
