How awesome...today's reading in Isaiah includes my hospital passage! Hospital passage, what do you mean Mark? I might as well go ahead and tell you, if you ever end up in the hospital and I come to visit you this is the passage I will read and pray. I typically reserve this passage for dire health conditions so if I read this passage to you in the hospital be afraid, be very afraid...the end is near:)
You might wonder why I would choose this as my hospital passage...or you might not! Check this out, you may want to make it your hospital passage too:) This is amazing to me...I know, everything is amazing to me...Take a look at what God tells us in Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. I have called you by name, you are mine! I don't know about you, but I am very encouraged to know that God is jealous over me with a godly jealously! I want HIM to look and me and say "MINE." The more I know about HIM the more exciting it is to know that that in verse 21 HE says "the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise." HE formed us for HIMSELF that we may proclaim HIS praise...HE formed us for HIMSELF that we may proclaim HIS praise...boy that sounds familiar, it seems like I just read that yesterday...hmmmmmm. OH, I did in Ephesians 1:5-7, what did Paul write? He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace." It is the riches of God's grace that transforms us, it is the redemption through his blood that allows us to enter through Jesus, through the door, through the gate and be called HIS OWN, transformed into HIS sheep. Jesus paints this picture beautifully in John 10:27-31 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.” Even at deaths door I have a purpose! It is to know that HE, Yahweh, formed me and created me to proclaim HIS praise...I was dead in my sins and trespasses, but Jesus made me alive together with HIMSELF in the heavenlies...HE called me out of darkness into HIS marvelous light...by grace I was saved! THANK YOU JESUS!
Remember we are in the hospital...if I am getting ready to be cut on or I am standing at deaths door, it is good to know that God the Father is very possessive over me...Amen! It is really good news to know that you are in HIS righteousness right hand...Jesus, and no one is able to snatch you out, that includes you...you can't take yourself out of HIS hand!
If your situation is really bad I will add these verses...John 6:37...“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. " If someone is uncertain of their salvation or if they are having doubts this is a great verse...come to Jesus, come to Jesus, if you come he will not turn you away, he will not cast you out, but you must come!
All of this flowing from God tell me that HE created me, that HE formed me and that HE has called me by name and I belong to HIM!
One last thought! In John 16:33 Jesus promises us tribulation in this world, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Our hope and courage comes knowing that this is not our home, we are passing through to our eternal home that Jesus is preparing for those that love HIM. In Isaiah 43:2 it is vital to notice that God tells us..."when you pass through, when you pass through...NOT IF, BUT WHEN...I WILL BE WITH YOU! "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you."
HE promises HIS presence and it is more than enough if we will have eyes to see and ears to hear!
Rejoice in knowing, provided you know, that you are HIS!
Your fellow partaker of the divine nature!
m