But now, God’s Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. Isaiah 43:1 The Message

God never gives up. He doesn’t let go. Even…when you’ve turned your back on Him. It’s hard to believe really. It’s easy to take God for granted. It’s easy to stray just a little and think ‘Well, The Lord has forgiven me, I’ll do better from now on’. They were in exile, sent away because they chased idols, compromised their faith-lives, and treated God’s Promise as something they could improve on their own. The Lord, being who He is, always looked at them through His promise, not their defection. He looks at you the same way, only through His Son, not your sin. They (redeemed slaves) lived in a Promise to come. We (blood bought) live in the Promise of return. In between is a Cross that connects stubborn, sinful, wandering men and women then, with stubborn, sinful, wandering men and women today. 

Jesus prayed that we would be protected from the Evil One. This world doesn’t define you. It’s in Christ you find out who you are and what you are living for. (Eph 1:11) We live in a world irrevocably broken, where darkness is called light, and evil is called good. God is still a Redeemer, who still calls and finds lost and wandering lives. He didn’t redeem from a distance. Jesus was the Promise to come and with nail-scarred hands and feet is the Promise of return. Everything about Him is personal. He’s called you by name. Your mine. Old to New, New to Forever is the God who calls, redeems, and claims. He claimed you so the world can see a difference. How will you step into this day? It only takes a moment…

I’m consecrating myself for their sakes so they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission. John 17:19 The Message