God S Refrigerator Photo
E.A. Johnston illustrates God's enduring love and remembrance of His people by likening it to a cherished photo engraved on the palms of Jesus' nail-pierced hands.
In this devotional sermon, E.A. Johnston draws from Isaiah 49:13-16 to reveal the profound love and remembrance God has for His people. Using the relatable image of a family photo on a refrigerator, Johnston helps listeners visualize how God holds each believer close, engraved on the nail-pierced hands of Jesus. The message offers deep comfort and assurance of salvation, especially in times of discouragement, by emphasizing Christ's sacrifice and eternal care.
Full Transcript
In the home of a family, it's not uncommon to find on the refrigerator photos of the children of that family held there by magnets, so that every time you open the fridge and grab some food, you look and a picture of your loved one is smiling at you. It's a warm and loving feeling. There is a passage in Isaiah, which always grips my heart, and it's found in Isaiah chapter 49 and in verses 13 through 16.
Sing, O heavens, and be joyful. O earth, and break forth into singing. O mountains, for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.
Thy walls are continually before me. When I read that, I imagine the hands of God, in particular the hands of Jesus, and I imagine that in the palm of his hand is my photo engraved there. It has a nail print running across it for two thousand years ago at Calvary.
Christ Jesus died for me, and when Jesus went to the cross to die for my sins, he was clutching my photo in his hand, if I may so speak. When he died for me, for when he died, I died. When he was buried, I was buried with him.
When he rose, I rose in my union with him. Jesus, the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Behold, our text says, that means look here, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.
When I get down in the dumps, and the world is heavy upon my shoulders, and I read this striking passage of scripture, and contemplate all that Jesus did for me at Calvary, and I imagine God's refrigerator photo of me for all eternity, graven there upon those nail-pierced hands that belong to the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The familiar image of family photos on a refrigerator
- The warmth and love evoked by seeing loved ones' pictures
- Introduction to Isaiah 49:13-16 as God's comforting message
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II
- God's promise of never forgetting His people
- The metaphor of engraving His people on the palms of His hands
- The significance of the nail prints from Calvary
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III
- Union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection
- The personal nature of Christ's sacrifice
- The comfort and assurance found in God's remembrance
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IV
- Applying the passage in times of discouragement
- Imagining God's eternal 'refrigerator photo' of each believer
- Living in the assurance of Christ's love and sacrifice
Key Quotes
“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.” — E.A. Johnston
“When Jesus went to the cross to die for my sins, he was clutching my photo in his hand, if I may so speak.” — E.A. Johnston
“When I get down in the dumps, and the world is heavy upon my shoulders, I imagine God's refrigerator photo of me for all eternity.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Remember that God personally and permanently remembers you, even in difficult times.
- Meditate on Christ's sacrifice as a source of comfort and assurance of your salvation.
- Visualize God's love daily to strengthen your faith and overcome discouragement.