Isaiah 28:14-30:11 ~ Galatians 3:23-4:31 ~ Psalm 62:1-12 ~ Proverbs 23:19-21
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Old Testament - Today the Lord continues his messages of woe against Jerusalem and Judah through the prophet Isaiah!
Isaiah chapter 29 verses 15 and 16 I found to be so powerful to consider... "Destruction is certain for those who try to hide their plans from the LORD, who try to keep him in the dark concerning what they do! "The LORD can't see us," you say to yourselves. "He doesn't know what is going on!" How stupid can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you. You are only the jars he makes! Should the thing that was created say to the one who made it, "He didn't make us"? Does a jar ever say, "The potter who made me is stupid"?" How true are these words? Have you ever tried to hide your plans from God? Did it work out? How apropos the point in verse 16 is where some people said: "God didn't make us!" Ever hear words like this today from others? How sad is this? Will you pray for others in your life today who may feel that God didn't make them? Will you pray for those in your life today that do not believe in God? Will you pray for them to learn that indeed the potter who made them is not stupid? Will you pray that they learn that the Potter who made them is God who loves them so very dearly!
New Testament - I love Paul's teachings today in Galatians chapter 4 verses 3 through 7! "And that's the way it was with us before Christ came. We were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you." Do you believe these teachings of Paul's to be true? Are you a child of God? Has God sent the Spirit of Jesus into your heart? Do you today call God your dear Father? Do you believe that everything God has belongs to you because you are his child?
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Galatians titled "The Contribution of the Mosaic Covenant" is at this link, "The Inferiority of Immaturity" is at this link, and "Paul Gets Personal" is at this link. Below is a great image for Galatians 3:28 from today's readings:
Psalms - Today we read in Psalm 62 verse 11 - "God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you." This is a powerful verse - no pun intended. . . :) Really, think about it. Where does power come from? Who gives power? Who takes it away? I think it is such a blessing when we truly understand this verse and then live it out. When we realize that we really have no power of our own. Any power - any thing - we have comes from God and God alone. And thank God for that. It's when we start believing we create or own or control power that we begin to get prideful or we'll misuse the power given to us. I think a great teaching on where power truly comes from comes from Jesus when he is before Pilate in John chapter 19 verses 10 & 11 - "“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above."" Where do you think your power to do anything at all comes from? Do you believe it was given to you from above? If so, how might truly realizing this change how you live your life? How might it change how you utilize the power given to you? Below is a great image for verses 7 and 8 from Psalm 62:
Proverbs - Today's Proverbs verses 19-21 in chapter 23 are very applicable to each of our lives today in this modern world... "My child, listen and be wise. Keep your heart on the right course. Do not carouse with drunkards and gluttons, for they are on their way to poverty. Too much sleep clothes a person with rags." How do these verses speak to you? Is your heart on the right course? Do you avoid carousing with drunkards & gluttons? Think this Proverb has some value for our lives today in this modern world? Is gluttony or drinking at times portrayed as "good" or hip or cool in our world today...? Do you realize the danger and poverty that this lifestyle can lead to?
Worship God: Rich Mullins' song "Creed" with the line of "I did not make it, though it is making me" is a great reminder of us being made by the Potter per our Isaiah readings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LR2hFP1yb4
Do believe in God the Father? Click here and get to know the Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth!
Book Recommendation: I'm going to go out on a limb here with a book recommendation for a book that I have not yet read. I own it! :) But haven't yet found the time to read it. This book did come highly recommended to me by a trusted friend. The book is called "Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven" by James Bryan Smith. The book is described as a "devotional biography," giving readers an insight into Rich's life, but more importantly, allowing the readers to learn what was most important to Rich - urging people to draw near to God. If anyone has read this book, please post up reviews in the Comments section below for others? Thanks.
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray that you truly are living as if you know that you and all of your fellow Believers are one in Christ Jesus. Pray that you don't discriminate against anybody in any way, even subtly or subconsciously. Pray that you truly know that there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all who are one in Christ Jesus.
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
Isaiah 28:14-30:11
As I read through the readings yesterday and today, my thoughts went to the words of Paul,
But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done. (1 Corinthians 3:12-13 AMP)
The messages given to Isaiah about the destruction of the nations and Israel seems to me to be based on the concept Paul speaks about. Anything that is not of God will be destroyed because it is only the things of God that will last. Some try to build the things of God upon a foundation that is constructed of ungodly thinking. There is a throught that all we have to do is build our new lives upon old sinful ways, it won’t work. The new ways we try to walk in without allowing God to build a firm foundation will crush the things we gained when we built relationships, jobs, careers on old dirty sinful foundations.
I’ve also picked up a common thread of “Truth” running through today’s readings. Near the end of today’s reading in Isaiah 30 is this:
They tell the prophets, "Shut up! We don't want any more of your reports." They say, "Don't tell us the truth. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. We have heard more than enough about your `Holy One of Israel.' We are tired of listening to what he has to say." (Isaiah 30:10-11 NLT.)
I may have asked this rhetorical question before but what is it about Truth that we humans don’t want to face? Why do we love to dwell on lies? Anything built on a lie will collapse.
Galatians 3:23-4:31
Under that same theme of Truth, or the rejection of Truth, Paul ask the Galatians about their perception of someone who brings them Truth,
Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? (Gal 4:16) We are so ready to believe what we want to hear instead of what is true. We want to take in a lie rather then deal with the truth.
In the third chapter there is a statement that all who suffer from an identity crises, those who want to be like “Mike” and anyone else other than what God made you really should study and mediate on verses 27-29,
And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians--you are one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and now all the promises God gave to him belong to you.
Love who you are; find your purpose and stick to it. Emulation, envy, “star worship” or idolization and imitation of others is a “Work of the Flesh” (Gal 5:18-21).
Galatians 3:27-29 was one of the three passages that shook me to my core and freed me from self-hatred and my strong desire to be someone other than what God made me when I first began reading through the Bible seventeen plus years ago. We use the phrase, “Read it and weep” sometimes when we prove ourselves right about something in the face of fierce opposition; but I actually read that passage and wept for hours. It was one of the most freeing things that has ever happened to after accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
Psalm 62:1-12
1
I wait quietly before God,
for my salvation comes from him.
2
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken.
3
So many enemies against one man--
all of them trying to kill me.
To them I'm just a broken-down wall
or a tottering fence.
4
They plan to topple me from my high position.
They delight in telling lies about me.
They are friendly to my face,
but they curse me in their hearts.
5
I wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
6
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
Here again we focus on Truth. David allows the lies told about him by his enemies to be countered by God’s Truth as he waits quietly before God. I’m assuming or either interjecting my understanding of “waiting quietly before God.” Doesn’t it mean that he did not counter his enemies’ accusations with his own brand of self-defense and loud arguments?
When we are in God’s fortress while we wait for Him to take care of those who are out to get us, we will probably still hear the threats and the rattling of sabers in our ears which may cause us to think that God is not protecting us. Yet just like the shadow of death, or the shadow of a dog may appear to be dangerous, we must remember that the shadow of a dog has never bitten anyone, nor the loud boisterous voices of fire-breathing threats has ever physically done anyone harm when we run to the Name of the Lord which is our High Tower.
Proverbs 23:19-21
Today’s three verses are another reminder of what happens if we lay down with dirty dogs. We will rise up with fleas, lots of them.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | September 17, 2011 at 08:48 PM
I love the verses Isaiah 28:23-29. People need different things at different stages. These things can be different and yet all can be of God. His plan is wonderful! His wisdom is magnificent!
Posted by: Elizabeth | September 17, 2011 at 09:14 PM