Perfect Love/Perfect Power
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Isaiah 40:1-2, 10-14
1. Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 10. Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11. He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. 12. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? 13. Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as his counselor has instructed him? 14. Whom did he consult for his enlightenment, and who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?
I began in Psalms this morning and was referred to a passage in Isaiah. This is truly one of my favorite books of the Bible! The language is almost hypnotic and just about every life circumstance in which we might find ourselves is addressed in this book--just like the Psalms. I especially am drawn to Chapter 40 because it demonstrates some of the many faces of God. Comfort my people. Speak tenderly. The Lord comes with might, and his arm rules for him.
I am both awed and joyful that a God of such power to create the earth with the mere utterance of a few words, is also the God who loves me tenderly and gently. I guess perfect love is only possible from one who possesses “perfect power.” What example do we have from our God? Love with all our hearts. Live life acknowledging and declaring the greatness of our God and source of all love. Rejoice that we have received the Lord’s hand double for all our sins.
Luke uses much of chapter 40 in his gospel. Christ, of course is the epitome of this perfect love/perfect power. And much of Isaiah does foretell of the Messiah--not just chapter 40! Isaiah gave up wealth and social standing to obey God. He was scorned and ridiculed. People probably thought he was quite mad! But he was obedient to the God who measured waters in the hollow of his hand, trusting that same God would protect and sustain him.
We have the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies in our Risen Lord. Our sins are already covered over by the sacrifice of the perfect one who became our sin for us--not just our sin, the sin of every person who ever lived and who will live in the future -- your sin -- my sin -- the sin of anyone who ever cheated on their taxes, committed adultery, lied, stole, assaulted, killed. Each and every sin. Think about that! Every evil act ever committed since the beginning of time - Adam and Even in the garden, you and me, and the last one left alive at the end of time. Every sin.
I wonder if some are unable to believe because their lives have been so full of pain and disappointment, despair and hardship. I wonder if the God of perfect love is too much for them to accept because they have never met Him in the kindness of another, or seen His face reflected in the eyes of a stranger. I cannot imagine a life without the perfect love of God to sustain it. My heart breaks for those who do not/cannot believe. Our task is to be Christ for our world. That is the only way there is any chance for hearts to be touched and lives to be changed.
We wonder what’s wrong with the world today. Not enough God, is my opinion. Not enough fear and trembling of the all-powerful creator of heaven and earth. Not enough trust in the loving tenderness of His mercy. Not enough faith in His promise for us, proven to be trustworthy by the sacrifice of Jesus.
My prayer today is that you show the world Christ through your words and your actions. And that you extend the Lord’s hand that saves to someone in your life who needs to hear the Good News.
Mary
