Pros

update

14 June 07

What a Dad! - Isaiah 54 v 7-9

Will Lewis Hamilton be on every Formula One podium for the rest of his career? He’s one third place, four seconds and now a win in his first six races! At twenty two years of age he appears to have come from nowhere.

Well, not quite. After his win in Canada on Sunday the BBC showed some him as an eleven year old racing karts. In it they interviewed his dad, an ordinary working man who had no chance of being able to afford such an expensive sport. So when Lewis was ten his dad took three jobs in order to raise enough money for his son to be able to race. He continued to do those jobs through Lewis’ teenage years. His dad admitted that sometimes he felt like giving up, because it was so hard, but he wanted to do it for his son. What a dad!

Isaiah 54:7-9 tells us that as a Christian, God your Father, who should turn his back on you for the rebellion you’ve committed against him even this week, will never do so because of the work of Jesus at Calvary:

7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you," says the LORD your Redeemer.  9 "To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.

How awesome is this! You and I deserve utter rejection from God and yet his compassion totally outweighs our sinful behaviour. Because Jesus has died on the cross God makes two promises to you today.

1. With everlasting kindness he will have compassion on you (v8). Everlasting never ends. Ever-lasting! No matter what you’ve done this week, his kindness and compassion is ever-lasting. He feels like that about you now, however you feel about yourself. That’s what he said. If he said it, he means it. He doesn’t lie. Believe him.

2. He will not be angry with you, never rebuke you again (v9). Can it be true? Given what I’ve done this week, even today? Yes it can. It is! God has given his word that he will not be angry with those who trust in Jesus ever again. Read it closely. He must keep his word. He will. He does. He is not angry with you now, whatever you’ve done.

What a dad! For goodness sake, enjoy his love today and let your heart be thrilled as you receive his love gratefully. It’s a gift, and it thrills him to give it to you. He’s so good.

Graham

Previous issues

You are currently subscribed to Professional Sport email.  To unsubscribe click here