“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. Do not be afraid for I am with you.” (Isa.43:4-5)
“The Son of Man didn’t come to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mk.10:45)
Lord Jesus—precious, honored, and loved … these are three things we easily attribute to you. But wonder of wonders, you declare them to be true of us. Don’t let us downplay this language as sentimental hyperbole, distrust it as manipulative sales-speak, or dismiss it as meant for the worthy but not for us.
You see us as we actually are, Jesus—our beauty and brokenness, our warts and worries—our failures, fickleness, and faithlessness, and yet you declare us to be precious in your sight. Not “precious” like a petting zoo of baby lambs or an art show of finger paintings done by 3-year-olds at Vacation Bible School.
But precious as those upon whom you have set your affection, ransomed with the price of your life, washed with the waters of your grace (Eph.5:26), clothed with the wedding garment of your righteousness, and now honor and adore as your beloved Bride. Jesus it’s all true because it’s the Gospel—and not just good views or sentimental “gobbledygook.” Nothing matters more. Nothing is more glorious. Nothing is more often the target of the devil’s schemes.
This morning, Jesus, I pray for that part of your precious, beloved Bride that have lost the wonder of your love—either through a season of personal failure, or through the impact of prolonged suffering, or by the cumulative impact of living too busy too long. You have warned us about the love of most people growing cold (Matt.24:12). Jesus, thaw us out. Rescue us from the shackles of shame and the prison of drivenness. Restore our first love. So Very Amen.
