January 16

Morning

Do not fear, O worm of Jacob, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. — Isa 41:14 BSB

This morning, let us hear the voice of the Lord Jesus speaking to each one of us: “I Myself will help you.” It is such a small thing for Me, your God, to help you. Think about what I have already done. Why wouldn’t I help you now? I bought you with My blood. I died for you. If I’ve done the greater thing, will I not do the lesser? Helping you is the least I will do for you. I have done more, and I will do more. Before the world began, I chose you. I made a covenant for you. I set aside My glory and became human for you. I gave up My life for you. If I did all this, surely I will help you now. In helping you, I am only giving you what I’ve already purchased for you. If you needed a thousand times more help, I would provide it. What you need is much for you, but nothing for Me to give. ‘Help you?’ Fear not! If an ant came to your barn asking for a handful of grain, it wouldn’t harm you to give it. In the same way, you are just a tiny creature at the door of My all-sufficiency. ‘I Myself will help you.’”

O my soul, is this not enough? Do you need more strength than the omnipotence of the Trinity? Do you need more wisdom than that found in the Father? More love than that shown by the Son? More power than the Holy Spirit offers? Bring your empty pitcher here! This well is more than enough to fill it. Gather up your needs—your emptiness, your sorrows, your troubles—and bring them to the overflowing river of God’s goodness. What more could you want? Go forward, my soul, in this strength. The Eternal God is your helper!

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed. I am your God, and I will still give you aid.”

Evening

Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed. — Dan 9:26 BSB

Blessed be His name, there was no cause for death in Jesus. He had no original or personal sin, so death had no rightful claim on Him. No one could justly take His life, for He had done no wrong, and no one could have killed Him by force unless He had willingly allowed it. And yet, one person sins, and another suffers. Justice was offended by us, but it was satisfied in Him. Rivers of tears, mountains of offerings, seas of animal blood, and piles of incense could never have removed our sins—but Jesus was cut off for us, and the cause of wrath was cut off forever. Sin was put away once and for all.

Here is divine wisdom—the invention of substitution, the sure and speedy way of atonement! Here is divine humility, that the Messiah, the Prince, would wear a crown of thorns and die on a cross! Here is divine love, that the Redeemer would lay down His life for His enemies! But it’s not enough to simply admire the sight of the innocent One dying for the guilty—we must be sure that we are included in this great act. The specific goal of the Messiah’s death was the salvation of His church—do we have a share in it? Did Jesus stand in our place? Are we healed by His wounds? It would be a terrible tragedy to miss out on a part in His sacrifice. It would be better for us never to have been born.

Though this is a solemn question, it’s one that can be answered clearly. To all who believe in Him, the Lord Jesus is a present Savior, and His blood covers them. Let all who trust in the power of His death rejoice every time they think of Him, and let their gratitude lead them to a life fully dedicated to His cause.