I once heard the story of a young girl who was embarrassed by her mother’s ugly face–embarrassed until the mother explained why her face was ugly. It happened when she rescued her daughter from a fire that would have otherwise killed the child. From that point on, the child considered her mother’s face beautiful. The story illustrates God’s love for us. Isaiah 53 records how God’s Suffering Son expressed His love for us. Isaiah writes, “We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment for his own sins. But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. . . It was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear their sins.” God’s love for rebels like us is beyond comparison. Too bad many do not recognize His love, thank Him, and order their lives to please Him.
[powerpress]Don’t see the audio player? Click here.