Queen Valley Community Lutheran Church
4 March 2012
Precious, and Protected
Two weeks ago we started a series of “Precious Promises for Princes and Princesses.” We are talking about some of the things that are ours in Christ by the promise of God - besides the wonderful gifts of forgiveness of sins, salvation, and eternal life. You see, God’s love for you is so great that He isn’t satisfied with simply forgiving your sins and saving you from eternal damnation in Hell. He really does love you, so much that He not only wants to forgive your sin but He wants you to be His own child, a member of His family. And the wonderful truth is that there are blessings and privileges that go along with being a Prince or a Princess of the Kingdom of God! (There are some responsibilities that go with that position as well, but we’ll talk about them at some other time.)
Last week we talked about two of these “Precious Promises for Princes and Princesses”. Do you remember what they were?
You were Picked, and you were Purchased. Picked from before the foundation of the world, in fact; and purchased with nothing less than the Blood of Christ.
That leads us to the two Precious Promises we are going to look at this week: Besides being a Prince or Princess, and being Picked by God to be His own and Purchased by the Blood of Christ, God’s Word tells you that you are Precious to Him, and because your are precious, you are also Protected by Him.
Can you think of some people or things that are precious to you? Think about it a minute. Certain people, maybe? Family members? Your spouse, children, grandchildren? Your favorite musical instrument, or books, or some prized possession that you inherited from your great-grandparents? What, or who would you call precious?
The dictionary definition of Precious says: “something or someone of great value, highly esteemed; a dearly beloved person - your darling.”
Did you know that you are God’s “darling?” When you pray to receive Jesus Christ into your heart and life as your own Savior and Lord and thus become a member of God’s family, you become His favorite child - his darling.
A wonderful Old Testament passage that gives rise to the term “Precious” is in Deuteronomy 32, where it tells us that God keeps His people as the “apple of His eye”. The passage goes on to talk about how the Lord hovers over us and takes us up on eagle’s wings, and carries us through life.
What does that expression mean, “the apple of His eye”? It literally means that little pinpoint of light that sparkles in the very center of the pupil of your eye. There are children - some of them even adults by now - to whom I can say, “I knew you when you were nothing but a sparkle in your daddy’s eye.” It’s that gleam of love, desire, and intimacy in the very center of your darling’s eye, when he looks at you; that’s the “apple of the eye.”
In Zechariah 2:8 God says, “whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye.” That means He is as sensitive about anything that threatens you with harm as you are about protecting your eye. He will defend you, protect you, and care for you that much - because you are that precious to Him!
We protect what is precious to us. Psalm 91:11 says, “He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” There really are guardian angels, but according to the Bible they are not sent to protect everybody in general. They are specifically sent to protect God’s own precious children.
I wish I had time to tell you about the times that God’s guardian angels have protected me during 30 years on the Mission field. Maybe we can do that some other time; but what’s important is that you understand that He doesn’t only send them to protect missionaries in foreign countries. He has promised to send His angels to protect you, His precious child, here in Queen Valley as well.
Look at Psalm 27. “1The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. 3Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident. 4One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple. 5For in the time of trouble He shall hide in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock...”
Notice that it says the Lord is my Light, my salvation, and my source of strength. It says we don’t need to be afraid of wicked people who attack us, enemies who want to eat us up, or even whole armies that take up their positions against us, and declare war on us.
What dangers and fears are you facing this month in your life? Are they any worse than the things that David describes in this Psalm? Are they any more of a threat? Can God, who hid David and protected him, do the same for you?
The Psalm says that “in the day of trouble” - when things really get bad - he will hide you, He will tuck you away in a secret place, he will set you up in a place of safety. You don’t need to be afraid, you can proceed with confidence no matter what you are facing, because you have a Protector. All you have to do is keep your eyes on Him; “behold the beauty of the Lord;” and you will get your answers from Him.
Because you are precious to Him, as His own dear child, He protects you.
Now, once again the question is, are you His child? It’s not that I want to get everybody saved over and over again every Sunday; don’t misunderstand me. But I grew up in the Christian church and I’ve been a Pastor for a long time. I know that sometimes people go to church their whole lives and never get this relationship settled.
John 1:12 says, “But to all who received Him, who believed on His name, he gave the right to become children of God...”
Now is the time! If you aren’t sure of your relationship with God, by all means get it clear today. Be sure of your salvation. Make sure that you are God’s own child, and that all of these promises are personally yours.