Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Isaiah 43. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- It is difficult to adequately express the glory that God has bestowed upon His dear children of faith. Humility is important to God, and we are called to emulate His humility. This is proper and appropriate, in that we are creatures, His creatures who are dependent for everything on Him.
- However, an aversion to the tawdry arrogance and pride that is so endemic to fallen human nature can make it difficult for us to see just how precious and important we are to God, and the role that we have as part of “the glory of God.”
- This is essentially what God is expressing and revealing to us in the words of our text. Yes, they were first spoken to the children of Israel – but also to “everyone who is called by His Name.” Having been baptized into the Name of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – we are indeed among those called by His Name.
- So these verses apply directly to each of us – all who have faith and trust in God’s gracious and merciful forgiveness and salvation in Christ Jesus, the blessed Son of God and Savior of the world. There are several points in our text, and we will take them up briefly one by one. First, that:
I. God’s Glorious Children Were Created And Formed By God Himself
Text: “But now thus says the Lord, He Who created you, O Jacob, He Who formed you, O Israel.”
Statement: Of course God is the Creator of all things generally, but as the psalmist asserted, God has also fashioned us and knitted us together in the womb. We are His creation in Christ Jesus, created for good works which God has before-ordained that we should be walking in them. He prepares us for these good works. His “creating” and “forming” of us is much more personal and detailed that we can imagine.
Application: Our sinful nature may make this into a cause for pride and even arrogance, but this is not at all reasonable. Rather, we should be deeply humbled that God pays so much attention to us, that we are this precious to Him! And we should also consider that this reality makes an impact on “who we are” and what our purpose is in this world! But there is more, for:
II. God Has Also Redeemed Us To Be His Glorious Children
Text: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you.”
Statement: The essence of redemption – as far as our psyche and personal feelings are concerned – is that there is no longer reason for us to “fear.” Our sin and guilt warrants and deserves punishment, extreme punishment; but in redeeming us God has taken away our sin and guilt, and Jesus has suffered our punishment.
Application: Our sinful nature may be eager to turn this into a basis for freedom and license to sin, but again, this is not at all reasonable – as the apostle Paul discussed in the Epistle Lesson from Rom. 6. Rather, this is deeply humbling, that we should need such redemption, and that in His great love for us God should provide it. And it was not without cost to Him. And all of this reveals how precious and dear we are to God as “His Glorious Children.” But there is more, for:
III. God Has Called Us To Himself, To Be His Glorious Children, By Calling Us To Faith In Jesus
Text: “I have called you by name, you are mine.”
Statement: Those who called to faith in Jesus, who know and believe the love that God has for us, are claimed by God. At first this may seem difficult for us; we want to be free, owned by no one! But the cosmos is big – and it is quite comforting to be “owned” by and precious to the One Who is almighty and Who controls the entire universe! As such, there is comfort and strength in knowing that He is tending to our care and our interests – for we are His!
Statement: You remember Jesus told His disciples they were no longer servants, but rather “friends.” So God’s “ownership” is not something that diminishes our stature but rather enhances it. It may not be appealing to everyone, but there is something quite strengthening and precious to be aligned with God. This is part of what makes us “GLORIOUS CHILDREN OF GOD.” But there is more:
IV. God Insures That He Will Keep And Preserve His Glorious Children
Text: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Statement: Note that God’s glorious children are not guaranteed immunity from the troubles and dangers that are common to mankind in this fallen and imbalanced world of sin. But rather, we are assured that no matter what happens to us – even death – we are preserved by God and blessed by Him, for He is working all things together for the good of His glorious children. And this will be evident on Judgment Day – when we and everyone else will see all things clearly!
Application: There is great comfort and strength in this – a sure and certain foundation for courage and confidence! Not that nothing will ever befall us, or that we will not have trials, troubles, and tribulations. No, the Scripture assures us that we will be challenged by such things. But rather, we have assurance that we will prevail in all these things. For in truth:
V. God’s Glorious Children Are Quite Precious To Him
Text: “For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in My eyes, and honored, and I love you. I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.”
Statement: This is a rather chilling and awe-inspiring thought – that God would sacrifice other human beings for our blessedness. But this is the cosmic “economy” of God’s balancing of “good and evil.” For His people are precious, so very precious to God – and those who seek to destroy them, and even those who attack and abuse them, are ultimately expendable. We are precious to Him, and honored, and He loves us.
Application: It is not as though He is unfairly selective in blessing and protecting His glorious children – He holds this blessedness before everyone; God loves the world, and wills all men to be saved, to become His glorious children. But those who reject His love, and who are determined to destroy His beloved children, these will suffer His wrath and retribution. This is good for us – so long as we take care not to abuse His glorious children; but let us clearly understand how God feels about the good and welfare of all of His dearly beloved children! And finally:
VI. God’s Children Are For His Glory
Text: “I will bring everyone who is called by My Name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made.”
Statement: It seems hard to imagine, how we could be created “for His glory.” Perhaps the best illustration would be how parents take pride in their children, and how children can enhance the glory and honor of their parents by doing well in life. But it is much more than this – for God determines far more in regard to our destiny than our parents can, for “it is God Who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Truly, anything that is genuinely good and glorious that is accomplished by human beings IS the work of God!
Application: Still God shares the glory of what He accomplishes with us – He speaks of our works as belonging to us, even though He has worked them in us and through us. It is again a remarkable thing – not engendering any pride whatsoever, but complete humility – that God should determine that His glory shall be revealed in us and through us. All praise, honor, and glory be to Him!
Conclusion: This is nothing that should fuel pride and arrogance, but it is something that should give us abiding peace and joy, and a sense of well-being and proper self-respect! Not self-respect based in what we do or accomplish, but rather based in the respect and love that God has for us!
Rather than bolstering a sense of “privileged status,” it should rather give us a sense of the great honor which God has bestowed upon His glorious children! What this should fuel within us is a great sense of God’s blessings upon us, and a great eagerness even now to fulfill our purpose in bringing honor and glory to God!
He has formed you for this purpose, and redeemed you, and called you by His name – you are His own. He will protect and preserve you, and do whatever is necessary to honor you – for you have been created for His glory! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.