Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I are in the midst of a study of the Bible. I jokingly say that we are covering everything from Genesis to Revelation, only leaving out the table of contents and the maps at the end.
Much of what we have studied is quite grim. The Hebrew people spent 400 years as slaves in Egypt. They frequently experienced bad leadership, as one self-serving king followed another. In the time of the prophets, they contended with dire threats from foreign adversaries.
Israel’s story didn’t have to be this way. God promised them blessings for obedience. The people chose disobedience, hoping for God’s blessing just the same, but a curse was the result.
Interspersed within Isaiah’s message of judgment was one of comfort and hope.
Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:1-2)
God can comfort Jerusalem, because Jesus would pay the penalty for the sins of the people. Think with me about this portion of the Lord’s Prayer.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matthew 6:12)
Jesus bled and died for us – sinners and rebels against God – on the cross. We are in debt to Him for what He did on our behalf.
In years gone by, when a person took out a loan but wasn’t able to pay it back, the bank wrote “FORGIVEN” over the loan. The person was free from their debt to the bank.
When we ask Jesus to forgive our debt of sin, we are asking Him to write “FORGIVEN” over every single act of rebellion, pride, and more.
How do we respond to those who have harmed us? Jesus calls us to write “FORGIVEN” over their debt of sin.
How do we respond to our enemies? Shall be bigger and better enemies than they are? Followers of Jesus are called to join Jesus in paying the debt of their sin by loving them.
“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28).
A woman was asked, “What if love doesn’t work?” She replied, “Then, I just up the dosage.”
Why does loving like Jesus work? Loving like Jesus aligns us with God.
“Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked” (Luke 6:35).
At the end of the day, all comfort comes from love that originates in the heart of God.
Prepare the Way
Right now, Patrick Mahomes spends hours each day recovering from an injury and getting ready for the 2026-27 season. Have you ever thought that revealing God’s love is a larger need in the world than being able to quarterback an NFL team?
I submit to you that the biggest need our world faces is not better football in the Fall. Our world is starving for God’s love to conquer the hate that permeates society.
If we are to be God’s agent of love, we need to go to God’s training camp and prepare to give a Jesus kind of love.
A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:3-5)
If only we could jump to verse 5 and skip the preparation phase! That’s not God’s plan. Let’s think about preparing our hearts to overcome hate and enmity with Christ-like love.
(1) What needs to be made straight in our lives?
- Are there attitudes and habits that God wants to be corrected?
- Do we have unchallenged beliefs that need to be examined?
(2) What rough places need to be made smooth?
- Do we carry resentments and grudges and say to ourselves, “That’s the way I am. People will just have to accept me like this.”
- Do our actions show that we think anger is more effective than love? Are we willing for God to smooth our reactions to people out?
I hope these questions have stated you thinking. Please add to them as the Holy Spirit directs you.
Let’s determine to be people who bring God’s love, forgiveness, and comfort to the people around us who will be refreshed by our attitudes and actions.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 