The Lord Will Send A Redeemer

Our sins are piled up before God

and testify against us.

Yes, we know what sinners we are.

We know we have rebelled and have denied the LORD.

We have turned our backs on our God.

We know how unfair and oppressive we have been,

carefully planning our deceitful lies. . . .

“The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem

to buy back those in Israel

who have turned from their sins,”

says the LORD.

Isaiah 59:12-13, 20

When things begin to pile up—whether they are tasks at work or dishes in the sink—we start feeling guilty about not attending to our responsibilities. But Isaiah prayed about something far more serious. He described Israel’s sins as piling up—sins that offended God and deserved punishment. Israel couldn’t do anything to clean up this pile—but God could. Though the Israelites had rebelled against God, though they had turned their backs on the Almighty, God promised to send a Redeemer. Only he could buy them back from their slavery to sin. This Redeemer is Jesus—the one whose birth we celebrate on Christmas day.

In prayer today, praise God for sending Jesus to this earth to save us from our sins.

• Dear Lord, my sins are piled up. Thank you for buying me back . . .