His Word: Isaiah 43:4-5 Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. (NLT
Observation and Obedience: This passage speaks to God's character. It is God's character that reveals how he will treat and love his true followers.
The part of the this verse that I would like to reflect on is "You are honored". The definition of Honor is the privilege of being associated with or receiving a favor from a respected person, group, organization, etc.
We are honored to be called sons and daughters of the Most High God. We are honored because Jesus Christ laid down his life for our adoption rights. We are honored to call God Abba, Father. We are honored to carry His son's name with us as we approach the throne of grace. How well are we honoring Him? How well do we represent Him to the world? Are we living up to our Father's name? Are we honor worthy?
We are so quick to call on His name when our worlds are falling apart. But, do we continue to cry out and seek His ways once we feel like we've regained control? Or, do we put Him back on a shelf for when we NEED Him again to do something for us? How well would your other relationships fare under those circumstances? And, really, He created us for relationship! That's it!!! He gives you your next breath because He desires a relationship with you.
This is always daunting to me, writing about God's word. I wonder, is there really any way we should do more than just point others to what His Word says. Today, I was reading in Hebrews and what I read, it's powerful, it's thought provoking and it's worth a look, see, hear.
A Call to Live Worthy of Relationship and Honor
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. For we know the one who said,
“I will take revenge. I will pay them back.” He also said, “The Lord will judge his own people.” It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
“For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved. Hebrews 10:19-39New Living Translation (NLT)
Now, if that's not enough to give you pause, make you think and reflect on your relationship with God....then open your bibles and keep reading. If you don't like to read, listen with the Daily Audio Bible App. There's no better way to get in step with the God who calls you precious and has given you the honor of His Son's name than getting into His Word. Be worthy of it!
The following prayer is from the book by Francis Chan "Crazy Love". I dare you to read it and not be challenged and changed!!
Prayer: "Jesus, I need to give myself up, I am not strong enough to love You and walk with You on my own. I can't do it, and I need You. I need You deeply and desperately. I believe You are worth it, that You are better than anything else I could have in this life or the next. I want You. And when I don't, I want to want You. Be all in me. Have Your way with me. "
Encouragement: He gave us life so that we might seek and know Him. If you merely pretend that you enjoy God or love Him, He knows. You can't fool Him; don't even try. Francis Chan - Crazy Love
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