Personal reflection of God’s word… “line upon line, precept upon precept” (Isa. 28:9-10)

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Part 4b (2nd Half)

Isaiah 43:1-26 Series: Chosen, Redeemed and Restored

Value and Self-Worth: How Does God See You?

(Isaiah 43:4b)

Continuing on from Part 4a…

Thus far, we have established that God views us as precious and worthy of honor (See “#1 Value and Self-Worth: How Does God See You?”). Let us revisit our focus verse…

“Since you were precious in My sight,
You have been honored,
And I have loved you;
Therefore I will give men for you,
And people for your life.” – Isaiah 43:4

^“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself…” – Ephesians 1:4-5

Consider the creation account of how God formed the world and all the things that inhabit our planet. Have you ever noticed that God took the first 5 days to create sun, moon and stars, the Earth with land and water, plants and animals, and LASTLY, He created humans.

Observe the sequence…First, He created our solar system (among many others), placing the sun at its center and positioning Earth at the optimal distance for an ideal climate. Then, he established a land/water balance upon the Earth. After there was soil, water and sunlight, He caused plants to grow. Once the plants began to infuse our atmosphere with life sustaining oxygen, He created the animals and mankind.

• God made provisions…
  • for the Earth (before He made it),
  • for the plants (before He made them),
  • for the animals (before He made them),
  • and for us humans (before he made us).
• Each system or organism was entirely dependent upon the system or element that proceeded it in the order of creation.
• Genesis 1 depicts for us a God who is not only intentional, orderly, and logical; but more importantly, one who is a purposeful and thoughtful provider. His wisdom is clearly evident by means of this creative, intelligent design we call home.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse – Romans 1:20

“ your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him… Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? … Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin [“strain or struggle”]…Now if God so clothes the grass of the field…will He not much more clothe you…? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’… For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. – Matthew 6:8, 25-32

• Unconditional Love. Before He laid the foundations of the world, God had already made the “decision” to love us.
  • He didn’t wait for a “feeling” of love to “decide” if He could love us.
  • He didn’t wait to see how we treated Him to “decide” if He could love us.
  • He didn’t wait to see if we believed in Him to “decide” if He could love us.
• He made a “decision” to love us…in the moment the very thought of us entered His mind.

Unwavering love. God’s love for us is so pure – It is not contingent upon our actions, our decisions, our words, our thoughts, our loyalty, our faith, our beliefs, nor our opinions. It is a “decision,” a “final decision.” God is not like mankind in that His mind wavers back and forth depending on the circumstances at hand. When God makes a decision, His decision stands. God is constant and unchanging. He does not revoke his blessings, nor does He ever go back on His word.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8

“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Behold, I have received a command to bless;
He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.” – Numbers 23:19-20

God’s love for us is not predicated, influenced, altered or impacted by anything in all of creation. Not circumstances, not times, not behavior, not even disbelief. God has made a “decision” to love us, and nothing can change His mind…not even you.

“The Lord has appeared… saying:
‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love…’” – Jeremiah 31:3

 ^“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you…” – John 15:16

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us…” – 1 John 4:10

Society says we must be “worthy” of love, before we are shown love. Society says we must be “deserving” of one’s love, before we are given that love. Society says we must “prove” our love, before it should reciprocated. And if we “fail” in our love, then love should be withheld from us. God’s love is not of this world. And the “world” does not know His love, because it does not know Him. God is love.

“…love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” – 1 John 4:7-11

Love is not a “feeling.” Love is a “decision.” God didn’t love us because He “felt” like it. Humans, by nature, are not always easy to love. Often, we are rude, inconsiderate, selfish, arrogant, unreliable, deceptive and so on. This is true for even the “best” of us. Picture a toddler for instance. Did anyone have to teach him to steal, to lie, to disobey, to be selfish, to envy or be jealous? No, but he did need to be taught to ask permission, to be honest, to listen, to share, to give, and show kindness. Because sin was condemned in the flesh (Romans 8:3), we are born with a “sinful nature” that makes doing what’s wrong come easily to us, and doing what’s right (apart from the Holy Spirit’s help) a matter of extreme self-discipline and self-control.

“For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal [“fleshly”], sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I [desire] to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do…For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I [desire] to do, I do not do; but the evil I [desire] not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I [desire] not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who [desires] to do good.” – Romans 7:14-21

Righteousness is spiritual, possible by means of God’s Holy Spirit. Sin is embedded within our flesh, by means of Adam’s original sin. So, more often than not, we have not been the epitome of something “lovable.” And yet, God still chose to love us. When people were spitting on Him, cursing Him, beating Him, mocking Him, and crucifying Him, ”Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Steeped in hatred and filled with murderous hearts, Jesus still pleaded their case to our Father from a standpoint of irrevocable love. Love is a “decision,” not a “feeling.”

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.” – 1 John 3:16

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

“who, when He was reviled [criticized, abused, insulted], did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree… – 1 Peter 2:23-24

The love of God is the love a Father. The love of God is the love of a martyr. The love of God is the love of a servant, a provider, a protector, a vindicator, a redeemer, a comforter, a sympathizer. The love of God is the love of the Creator…your Creator.

^“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you…. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35

Society says to “love one another.” God says to “love one another as HE loved us.” When we are commanded to show love to others, it is not by society’s version of love. It is by God’s example of love.

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” – 1 John 3:16-18

God’s example of love is one of sacrifice, the laying down of one’s own life for another, putting the needs of others before one’s own needs or preferences, and kindly serving others in humility. Not because they deserve it, not because they’re kind, not because they did something nice for us…but because that is what love does. Love is a “decision,” not a “feeling.”

“…the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.” – Deuteronomy 23:5

 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful [forgiving], just as your Father also is merciful.” – Luke 6:27-36

Society’s impression of love is often motivated by superficiality, lust, and selfishness. God’s understanding of love is as follows (1 Corinthians 13:4-8):

• Love suffers long [is patient] and is kind
• Love does not envy
• Love does not parade [flaunt] itself
• Love is not puffed up [prideful]
• Love does not behave rudely
• Love does not seek its own [selfish]
• Love is not provoked [easily offended]
• Love thinks no evil
• Love does not rejoice in iniquity [immorality]
• Love rejoices in the truth
• Love bears all things [perseveres]
• Love believes all things
• Love hopes all things
• Love endures all things  
• Love never fails

In other words…

• Even though someone may be difficult to love, we love them anyway, regardless of how we feel or whether we believe they “deserve” our love. We show them kindness they aren’t worthy of.
• For those who clearly have it better than us, we find a way to be sincerely and outwardly happy for them.
• Likewise, in instances in which we are better at something than others, we celebrate our excitement in a thoughtful way that does not belittle and shame those around us.
• When someone give us “attitude” (for seemingly no apparent reason), we choose to respond with pleasantness rather than bitterness.
• In situations where we want something really bad, we graciously let the other person have it instead.
• When someone wrongs us, we waste no time to forgive them (with or without an apology).
• In moments when evil thoughts invade our minds, we quickly replace them with good thoughts.
• Even when something looks cool to do, we turn from acts aligned with shame and hurt.
• Even when it seems easier to lie, we find the courage to embrace integrity and honor in truth.
• For those who come with a lot of “baggage,” we make the decision not to give up on them.
• When a situation seems impossible to overcome, we know God is more than able.
• Even though it may look hopeless, we trust in God’s unwavering promises.
• When things become unbearably hard, we refuse to quit and surrender to defeat.
• Even when someone disappoints us, we maintain our loyalty and do not forsake them.

*Important Disclaimer: Make no mistake. While there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from the everlasting love of God, this does not mean He is also unjust and turns a “blind eye” when we ignore His will in pursuit of our own. He is still holy, and sin is not permissible in His eyes. His gracious love and mercy is not a license to continue a lifestyle “committed” to sin. Read Romans 6:1-2, 5-14. Of course, we all still sin from time to time, imperfect as we are; however, the occasional sin is vastly different in God’s eyes than being committed to a lifestyle of sin, one with no desire for change. When we occasionally stumble in sin, God’s perfect, sacrificial love is more than enough to cover us.

“The Lord is not [slow] concerning His promise, as some count [slowness], but is long-suffering [patient] toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9

Because God is just and Holy, He can’t allow evil to go unpunished. Because God is honorable and trustworthy, He can’t go back on His word, “The wages of sin is death”(Romans 6:23). And because God is merciful and loves us, He volunteered to pay the price of sin Himself…on our behalf.

“For you were bought at a price…” – 1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Corinthians 7:23

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21

“Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”…, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes [lashes or whippings] you were healed.” – 1 Peter 2:22-24

If we accept God’s love for us and “decide” to love Him in return, we can. If we reject God’s love for us and “decide” to turn from Him, we can. Thanks to God’s amazing love for us, life and death is now a choice we each have been given. Prior to His sacrifice on the cross, death was inevitable and life was unobtainable. Now, life and love are “decisions” he leaves to us.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” – John 3:16-17

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again…”- John 15:15-18

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” – John 15:13

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