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Our Preeminent Calling to Love Jesus

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isa. 53:4-6 NIV

Lord Jesus, Isaiah’s description of the gospel melts, breaks, and frees our hearts this Sunday morning. You who never sinned, became sin for us, that in you, we might become the very righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). There is no greater love that this in the history of all loves and affection.

By your crushing, we are cherished. By your exile on the cross, we have citizenship in God’s heart. By your consummate wounding, we become completely healthy. By your cruel death, we live forevermore. We bow low in wonder, love, and praise.

It’s precisely because of your great love for us that we stand convicted this morning—not condemned, but deeply convicted. The beauty of your grace moves us to grieve the ugly of our sin. You created us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. You redeemed us for yourself, and you desire us as no one else ever could. Yet we still lapse into seasons of discontent, ingratitude, and wandering hearts.

You’re coming back for us with the passion of a Bridegroom for his beloved Bride. Yet we remain tempt-able and capable of turning to broken cisterns, empty mirages, and mere people to “fill us up.” Forgive us and bring us to greater freedom in 2019. Only you are enough, Lord Jesus. You alone are worthy.

By your grace, and the power of your resurrection, refresh, renew and intensify our love for you. Bring us back to our first love. You will never love us more than you do today, but we want to love you much more. May it be, Lord, may it be so. So very Amen we pray, in your altogether loving and worthy name.

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