Jesus Is My Hope

I pray that everyone is remaining safe and healthy. In the midst of this difficult situation of social distancing, yesterday I preached on having faith, even a lttle faith, faith as a mustard seed. Luke 17:6 says that if we possess even a little faith, "faith as a mustard seed" (v. 6a), which is the smallest of all seeds, "you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you" (v. 6b).

In other words, great things can be done with even a little bit of faith. We all need to join together in prayer every day and this coronavirus pandemic can be defeated. Just click on the "Sermons" tab above and you will be taken to that message on my podcast. And now to today's Bible Insight:

Isaiah 42:4a says, "He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth." The Messiah will accomplish His purposes. He will bring justice. This was fulfilled in part when Jesus came over two thousand years ago, providing salvation and new life for all who trust Him as Lord and Savior.

The full and final fulfillment will be at His second coming, when Jesus will set up His kingdom on earth and reign for a thousand years in righteousness and with justice. "And the coastlands shall wait for His law" (v. 4b) indicates that His millennial rule with truth and justice is worldwide. All the earth will benefit from His justice.

"Thus says God the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it" (v. 5). The promise is from God: "Thus says God the LORD" (v. 5a). He created the heavens, the earth, and all life on the earth out of nothing.

"Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it" (v. 5b). God created us not only as living, breathing beings, but He created in us a spirit, or a self-awareness. No plant, no animal, no other part of creation has that. We know our past; we can know God, along with His holiness; and we can know for certain that He will fulfill all His promises for the future.

He will give you new life. "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles" (v. 6). God reminds us of His promises: "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness" (v. 6a). The Son, like the Father, is righteous, and the Father sent Him to us. "And (I) will hold Your hand" (v. 6a). They have a common purpose and they walk together in it.

"I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people" (v. 6b). The promise of salvation in Christ. The promise of a future eternity with Christ. Jesus introduced this "new covenant." In the upper room, when Jesus broke the bread and gave them the cup, He refers to the new covenant: "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:28).

"Which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (v. 28b) refers to the purpose of Christ's death. It was the atonement for our sins. "As a light to the Gentiles" (Isa. 42:6b) is one of the many prophecies in Isaiah concerning the Messiah's purpose. His purpose was to save, but He not only came to save the people of Israel, He came to save all of us as well. He is my hope. Amen.