Plea for Grace January 1, 2023

How Deep the Father's Love for Us -- Stuart Townend
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

We sang this is church this morning and I don’t know that there is a time when I hear it that I am not moved to tears over the vast, immeasurable love of God. The prophet Isaiah, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gave a detailed description of the love of God in his prophecy of the suffering servant in chapter 52:13-53:12. If you are looking for a passage of Scripture to memorize this year, I will heartily recommend this.

Lord, You endured such hostility and pain to pay the ransom for my sin. What love! I worship You. In this New Year I again commit to obey You.

Psa 1:1-6 ESV - 
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 
6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.