“I, the LORD, have dedicated these soldiers for this task. Yes, I have called mighty warriors to express My anger love, and they will rejoice when I am exalted.” Isaiah 13:3
I don’t normally change the verse of the day at the top of the page, but today I just had to. Things have changed so much since the day this was first written and I wanted to make that the forefront of today’s message.
Most of Isaiah has been messages of God’s impending wrath, either toward an enemy of Israel, or towards the adulterous Israel herself. In fact, much of the Old Testament is detailing the wrath of God toward humanity in one form or another. It’s no wonder people think that God’s mad at them, He was! Key word… was.
God hates sin. Period. That has never changed. He hates how it separates us from Him. He hates what it does to us, and to our souls. God hates what sin does to our relationships. But He LOVES YOU! You see, in John 3:16 God lets us know that He loves you so much that He sent His only Son Jesus to die so that if you would believe in His name (Jesus) you would be given eternal life in heaven with Him. God gave Jesus to us as a gift to be received by faith that God put Him forward as a payment for our sins so that we could be justified from those sins and make it as if we had never committed them in the first place. (Romans 3:23-25) That way, we would feel free to come to God and talk to Him just like we talk to our best friend.
Those of us that have accepted the position of Child of God (1 John 3:1) have also been dedicated as soldiers of God – mighty warriors to express His endless love for you. There is no more banishment from the Garden of Relationship with God (Genesis 3:22-24/John 6:37), only open doors and welcoming arms, beckoning you to sprint through the curtain to His lap today. His love for you is like a river, always flowing and never ending; allow it to flow over you and cleanse away the hurt and betrayal you feel from the wounds of this world and it’s pain.
Jesus loves you. Soak in that today. Jesus loves you. Sprinkle it on your head. Jesus loves you. Splash it on your face. Jesus loves you. Wear it in your smile. Jesus loves you. Drink it into your heart. Jesus loves ME.
Tamar Knochel 