The Love of God 1

"Since you are Precious and Honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, and nations in exchange for your life."    Isaiah 43:4

When I read the Bible I try to imagine that God is speaking directly to me (because He is), so a lot of times I put my own name in the passage. For instance "Since you (Michael) are precious and honored in my sight...." This way what God is saying becomes personal.

Now put your own name into this passage and read it and let it sink in.

I don't know about you but growing up, probably from my teenage years onwards I didn't hear words like this spoken to me and I certainly didn't think of myself in this way. I was insecure about my looks, who I was, my grades at school, if people really liked me, how much money I had, whether I was cool enough or strong enough to fight off competition. Eventually the thoughts and voices in my head were usually negative and at times condemning. So to hear words like this were alien to me, almost unbelievable. But this is the way God views each and every one of us.

Now look at the words God uses to describe how He views us. Precious! Go look it up in the dictionary. Do the same with Honored. When I think of something precious I think of a new born baby and how the mother wants to show it off to everyone. She treats her child with great care, providing for all of its needs, and wants to be close to it always. When I think of Honored I think of College graduations when a student is honored before all their peers and families. Parents look on and celebrate with great pride, photos are taken, diplomas are framed and hung on walls for all to see and there are banquets & parties to celebrate those honored. You may have other thoughts or analogies, but this is how I see God viewing me, precious & honored.

Finally, here is the core of who God is, his very nature and essence....Love! And because of God's love for each of us he is willing to give up people and whole nations for us. Imagine that, imagine being a prisoner and someone would give an entire nation of people in exchange for your life. Now imagine a father, with only one son, whom he loves dearly and he gives him up in exchange for your ransom. That's how much God loves us, he gave up Jesus for you & me. It makes me want to get to know God more, to draw closer to him and to be with him.

Let his words sink into your heart & mind. Carry them with you and let them transform how you think about yourself and those around you, as you see yourself through God's eyes.