Precious

 One morning before work, I was reading this verse from Isaiah where God talks to His people of Israel:

"Because you are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life."

- Isaiah 43:4

It was interesting for me to note that God was using somewhat romantic language when He says "you are precious, and honoured, and I love you". Where it said "I give.. peoples in exchange for your life", I was reminded of how God ultimately gave His Son Jesus in exchange for not just the lives of the Jews but for the whole world more than 2700 years after this prophecy was written.

I then went off to work feeling pumped up and ready to 'glorify God in whatever I do' and wanting to 'walk in step with the Spirit'.

However, I came back from work feeling like the opposite, because I was unkind in my words to my colleagues etc (I don't really remember what now..because this happened more than a week ago). Sigh..I had failed God. Yet, I realised that what God said in this passage is still true regardless of what I did that day. Even though I still fell short, God still says:

"Because you are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life." 

Despite me doing the opposite of 'love, patience, kindness, self-control', God still says to me "You're precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you" and Jesus was still ALREADY given in exchange for my life, before I had been born and did anything of any value whatsoever in my life. 

Thank You God. I am just an unworthy sinner who believes in the God whose grace and love abounds in unimaginable ways!