Engraved on His Hands

This week, I prayed for fresh perspective regarding the cross. I've been a Christian for a long time now, and feared my heart was growing calloused toward what Christ did for me. Well, of course, God will answer a prayer like that. Thanks to some great teaching we heard on AM 830 (John MacArthur and David Jeremiah rock!), and our new church's Thursday evening service, my prayer was answered.

At the service, they had 12 men dress as the apostles and one as Jesus, with the table set up like it would have been at the Last Supper. Cool! Then they highlighted 4 different apostles (Peter, John, Judas, and Thaddeus) and how Jesus made a place at His table for each of them...and how there is a place at His table today for US.

But the greatest part for me was when our pastor spoke on Isaiah 49:15-16

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..."

Kind of a different verse to use regarding Good Friday, I thought. But then he went on to describe how "engrave" literally means "to cut." He mentioned how when you have a cut on your hand how much you notice it because you use your hands all the time. It's quite bothersome! Well, to be on the palms of God's hands, means how much we are always before Him; how much He remembers us. Then think of Jesus' hands - nailed to the cross - forever scarred. Then the irony of how God chooses to forget our sin (Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:12, 10:17) while at the same time promising never to forget US (Isaiah 49:15)!! This was such a fresh perspective for me, that really blessed me. As we think about Jesus' hands, we are assured of His great love for us! May this bless you today, as well!