Precious to God

<p>As a boy, Ming found his father harsh and distant. Even when Ming was ill and had to see the pediatrician, his father grumbled that it was troublesome. Once, he overheard a quarrel and learned his father had wanted him aborted. The feeling of being an unwanted child followed him into his adult years. When Ming became a believer in Jesus, he found it difficult to relate to God as Father, even though he knew Him as Lord of his life.</p> <p>If, like Ming, we haven&rsquo;t felt loved by our earthly fathers, we may face similar doubts in our relationship with God. We may wonder, <em>Am I a burden to Him?</em> <em>Does He care about me?</em> But while our earthly fathers may have been silent and distant, God our heavenly Father comes close and says, &ldquo;I love you&rdquo; (Isaiah 43:4).</p> <p>In Isaiah 43, God speaks as our Creator and as a Father. If you wonder whether He wants you to live under His care as part of His family, hear what He said to His people: &ldquo;Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth&rdquo; (v. 6). If you wonder what you&rsquo;re worth to Him, hear His affirmation, &ldquo;You are precious and honored in my sight&rdquo; (v. 4).</p> <p>God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to pay the penalty of sin so that we who believe in Him can be with Him forever (John 3:16). Because of what He says and what He&rsquo;s done for us, we can have full confidence that He wants us and loves us.</p>