Celebrating Easter.預覽

God’s New and Wonderful Grace

By Pastor Ed Fredrich

“What’s new?” is often the first question we ask when we see someone. I usually answer, “Oh, nothing.” Or when we go to the store and are looking for a particular item, we might find a label that says, “New and Improved!” Sometimes that label is declaring the truth. But, as consumers, we realize that it can be a marketing ploy to increase sales. Sometimes it is done only to disguise the fact that there may be less of the product in the container. The cost is increased but the quantity is actually less.

In this section of Isaiah, the Lord is making a tremendous promise to Israel. Even though many Israelites in Isaiah’s day had forsaken the Lord, the Lord was not forsaking His people. He remained faithful to them and promised to be with them. In fact, He declared, “Watch, I am about to do a new thing.”

The prophet Isaiah lived about 700 years before the birth of Jesus. The Lord was about to fulfill His promise of sending the Messiah. The Lord is describing His action with a picture of what our season is doing right now. It’s spring! The days are getting longer. The grass is greening up. The trees are filling in and the blossoms are declarations of “new life.” Even though it technically isn’t anything “new,” it is new.

Soon, we will be celebrating Easter again.

Jesus did an absolutely “new thing” when He took our sins to the cross. He died and rose again! Even though by God’s grace we have heard the message before, we can still appreciate the wonderful truth of the Lord’s wonderful grace.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the assurance of your continuing grace. Lead us once again to marvel at your love and rejoice in the “new” life you have given us. Amen.