The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Isaiah Isaiah 49:8-9,
"This is what the Lord says:
'In the time of my favor I will answer you [the Servant, Jesus Christ],
and in the day of salvation I will help you;
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people,
to restore the land
and to reassign its desolate inheritances,
to say to the captives, "Come out,"
and to those in darkness, "Be free!"'"
This passage is quoted by Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:2, "As God's co-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
Geoffrey W. Grogan in his commentary on Isaiah (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) does a wonderful job of explaining how the Servant (Jesus Christ) certainly merited the Father's favor, yet Paul's use of Isaiah 49:8 shows Paul and all believers share both in Christ's service and his acceptance by the Father. This is seen in another passage by Paul in Ephesians 1:4-6, "For he [God] chose us in him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves."
"This is what the Lord says:
'In the time of my favor I will answer you [the Servant, Jesus Christ],
and in the day of salvation I will help you;
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people,
to restore the land
and to reassign its desolate inheritances,
to say to the captives, "Come out,"
and to those in darkness, "Be free!"'"
This passage is quoted by Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:2, "As God's co-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
Geoffrey W. Grogan in his commentary on Isaiah (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) does a wonderful job of explaining how the Servant (Jesus Christ) certainly merited the Father's favor, yet Paul's use of Isaiah 49:8 shows Paul and all believers share both in Christ's service and his acceptance by the Father. This is seen in another passage by Paul in Ephesians 1:4-6, "For he [God] chose us in him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves."
God provides us with purpose and meaning in our lives by sharing opportunities for us to serve him and he also makes clear to us his acceptance of us through his Son, Jesus Christ!
How wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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