I believe it's important to remember and think about our future in Paradise with God. If nothing else, it gives us hope in this chaotic world and gives us a reason to keep fighting, to keep living for God. It gives us a reason to walk righteously, speak truthfully, despise the gain of oppression, deal honestly and with integrity, turn away from evil (Isaiah 33:15)...
Monday, June 29, 2009
Isaiah 33
As I read this chapter yet again I am filled with a strange sense of joy and peace and brokeness--joy at the future which awaits me, a future in Zion in the very presence of the Almighty God of the universe; peace at the hope this brings, at the very fact that nothing, nor anyone, in this world can seperate me from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39); but brokenness in the realization that in the past couple weeks I have drifted off the narrow path, been distracted by the desires of the world, and forgotten the hope, the joy, and the future I have in heaven.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Isaiah 32:9-20
These verses in Isaiah refer a time before Christ’s incarnation as well as the day when he will establish his throne on this earth. And we should find hope and encouragement in this promise. I do, anyway. There is hope of a better life, a life to come, and it is part of what keeps me going each day. I have something to live toward; something to look forward to. When Christ Jesus returns, he will reign righteousness and justice(Isaiah 9:7; 32:1, Jeremiah 23:5) and there will be peace in the land forever (Isaiah 32:17).
But what about now? It is often discouraging and frustrating and depressing when I look around me at the world I live in and see evil and sinfulness running rampant; and injustice seems to prevail. I feel as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow felt when he penned these words to his poem, Christmas Bells:
"And in despair I bowed my head;
'There is no peace on earth,' I said;
'For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men.'"
Pause for a moment and reflect on what it would feel like to live in a land full of peace, quietness, and trust.
In a fast paced, chaotic, and evil world, I would love to experience this more than ever. And yet we can. Verse 15 of this chapter says, “Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high…” Did this not happen at Pentecost (Acts 2)?
However the world and the Evil one is or has been or will treat you, remember that as Christians, God’s has given you His Spirit (1 John 4:13) and when trials, tribulations, and raging storms come, in Christ you can experience peace, quietness, and trust forever.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Isaiah 32:1-8
I have been dwelling on these verses for a long while now, unable to understand what God is saying here through Isaiah, the prophet.
As I’ve read this passage over and over again, I have found encouragement and peace and rest. I have taken solace knowing that I can, and one day will, find peace and rest from the difficulties of life. Evil will not endure forever but will fall. I have found encouragement and confidence in verse 8.
And yet I have been continually at a loss for words to express my thoughts on these verses. Perhaps the reason is that they are prophetic.
Behold.
Stop.
Pay attention.
A king will reign in righteousness. CHRIST, our LORD, will reign in righteousness (Revelation 11:15).
No matter how hard or bad or difficult life gets, and it will get harder, we as Christians have the hope of one day, and possibly sooner than we might think, living under the declared reign of Christ, the king of righteousness. And we will rule with him (Eph 2:6).
Isaiah 32:2-5 tells us what the reign of Christ will be like.
Are you looking eagerly for Christ’s return? Staying alert, lest you be caught off guard? Let these verse serve as a reminder and an encouragement that God will triumph over evil and that Christ will return to establish his kingdom and to reign in righteousness.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Isaiah 31:4-9
Read. Listen. Pay attention. For the Lord God, the Creator of all things, the One who was and is and is to come, the great I AM is speaking:
"As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey, and when a band of shepherds is called out against him he is not terrified by their shouting or daunted at their noise, so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill. Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it; he will spare and rescue it... And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man; and a sword, not of man, shall devour him; and he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be put to forced labor. His rock shall pass away in terror, and his officers desert the standard in panic"(Isaiah 31:4-5, 8-9; ESV).
How encouraging are these words to me. I challenge you to spend some time thinking and meditating on those words. Then consider the advice from Isaiah, inspired by the LORD, "whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem"(Isaiah 31:9, ESV):
"Turn to him.... " (Isaiah 31:6a, ESV).
"As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey, and when a band of shepherds is called out against him he is not terrified by their shouting or daunted at their noise, so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill. Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it; he will spare and rescue it... And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man; and a sword, not of man, shall devour him; and he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be put to forced labor. His rock shall pass away in terror, and his officers desert the standard in panic"(Isaiah 31:4-5, 8-9; ESV).
How encouraging are these words to me. I challenge you to spend some time thinking and meditating on those words. Then consider the advice from Isaiah, inspired by the LORD, "whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem"(Isaiah 31:9, ESV):
"Turn to him.... " (Isaiah 31:6a, ESV).
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Isaiah 31:1-3
Isaiah 31:2a-"And yet he is wise and brings disaster; he does not call back his words..." (ESV).
That "he is wise and brings disaster" seems almost contrary to God's character, but it is not. Sometimes we may not want to think of God like this, and at other times (and usually for the wrong reasons) we rejoice over this part of God's nature. But I'm willing to bet that whether we hate or love this part of God, we do not understand it. We may think we do, but when pressed a reason why God is like this, we find we don't really understand. However, the second part of the phrase in verse 2 helps us understand this aspect of God's character: "he does not call back his words." In other words, God is immutable; He is unchanging. He brings disaster on those who disobey Him. And He has to. If He did not, He would not be immutable. And if He was not immutable, how could He be trusted? Also, how could He be just? If He were not immutable then He entire character, the entire nature of God would crumble. He would cease to be God! Then where would that leave us? We'd be better off dead.
But if God brings disaster on those who disobey Him, what about Christians who disobey? Praise God, for that is where forgiveness comes into play. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9, ESV).
That "he is wise and brings disaster" seems almost contrary to God's character, but it is not. Sometimes we may not want to think of God like this, and at other times (and usually for the wrong reasons) we rejoice over this part of God's nature. But I'm willing to bet that whether we hate or love this part of God, we do not understand it. We may think we do, but when pressed a reason why God is like this, we find we don't really understand. However, the second part of the phrase in verse 2 helps us understand this aspect of God's character: "he does not call back his words." In other words, God is immutable; He is unchanging. He brings disaster on those who disobey Him. And He has to. If He did not, He would not be immutable. And if He was not immutable, how could He be trusted? Also, how could He be just? If He were not immutable then He entire character, the entire nature of God would crumble. He would cease to be God! Then where would that leave us? We'd be better off dead.
But if God brings disaster on those who disobey Him, what about Christians who disobey? Praise God, for that is where forgiveness comes into play. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9, ESV).
Monday, June 16, 2008
MEEKNESS
This is only a short break and then I will return to Isaiah.
Matthew 5:5-“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (ESV).
What is meekness anyway? Have you ever wondered that? Webster’s defines it as enduring injury with patience and without resentment; deficient in spirit and courage; not violent or strong.
I recently came across a Bible devotional study book I went through in the summer 2000. Curious about what I wrote in it, I skimmed through it and came across a page in which I wrote about meekness. And to my annoyance, God used my own words to smack me upside the head and say, “Hey, get with it, Stephen.” I thought it would be beneficial to share those words with you:
“Sometimes [you] might [have] a goal… and [you] try to get there, [you] try to reach it on [your] own. For example, there is this beautiful place [you] want to get to, but [you] want to get there as quickly as possible. [You] want to take the easiest way possible—the highway—and [you] don’t care what kind of country, wilderness, beauty, [you] cut down to pave that road. However, the road may still be beautiful. But God might want to get [you] to that beautiful spot via a different route or He may want to take [you] somewhere else. Yet the road God wants [you] to take is almost always the narrow, dirt road. It is less traveled and the travel will always be harder and it will probably take a longer time [getting there]. But at the end of the road you look back and see that the scenery was more beautiful and the place where you ended up, if it is different, will be more beautiful. And over all you will appreciate everything a whole lot more.
“Meekness… is willingly following God through the backwoods and dirt roads rather that making Him drag you through.”
Matthew 5:5-“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (ESV).
What is meekness anyway? Have you ever wondered that? Webster’s defines it as enduring injury with patience and without resentment; deficient in spirit and courage; not violent or strong.
I recently came across a Bible devotional study book I went through in the summer 2000. Curious about what I wrote in it, I skimmed through it and came across a page in which I wrote about meekness. And to my annoyance, God used my own words to smack me upside the head and say, “Hey, get with it, Stephen.” I thought it would be beneficial to share those words with you:
“Sometimes [you] might [have] a goal… and [you] try to get there, [you] try to reach it on [your] own. For example, there is this beautiful place [you] want to get to, but [you] want to get there as quickly as possible. [You] want to take the easiest way possible—the highway—and [you] don’t care what kind of country, wilderness, beauty, [you] cut down to pave that road. However, the road may still be beautiful. But God might want to get [you] to that beautiful spot via a different route or He may want to take [you] somewhere else. Yet the road God wants [you] to take is almost always the narrow, dirt road. It is less traveled and the travel will always be harder and it will probably take a longer time [getting there]. But at the end of the road you look back and see that the scenery was more beautiful and the place where you ended up, if it is different, will be more beautiful. And over all you will appreciate everything a whole lot more.
“Meekness… is willingly following God through the backwoods and dirt roads rather that making Him drag you through.”
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Isaiah 30:23-33
What does this passage teach me about the character of God? It teaches me that He is to be feared, but also that He is to be loved...
It has often been difficult for me to understand how God can be one of judgment and wrath while also being a god of love. In my mind He could only be one or the other, not both at the same time. And yet He is God and cannot be limited by our own logic and reasoning. And here is a very beautiful passage that shows both sides of God's character, intertwined and without contradiction.
As I read these verses, I realize that I used to be just like the Assyrians--at the mercy of God's anger. Indeed, by nature, I was a child of wrath (Eph. 2:3). But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love which He loved me, made me alive with Christ (Eph. 2:4-5)!
One must be careful to not just dwell on only one side of God. Rather, we need to take both sides togther. For "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" (Prov. 1:7, ESV), and we have been commanded to "love the LORD [our] God with all [our] heart and with all [our] soul and with all [our] strength and with all [our]mind" (Luke 10:27, ESV).
It has often been difficult for me to understand how God can be one of judgment and wrath while also being a god of love. In my mind He could only be one or the other, not both at the same time. And yet He is God and cannot be limited by our own logic and reasoning. And here is a very beautiful passage that shows both sides of God's character, intertwined and without contradiction.
As I read these verses, I realize that I used to be just like the Assyrians--at the mercy of God's anger. Indeed, by nature, I was a child of wrath (Eph. 2:3). But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love which He loved me, made me alive with Christ (Eph. 2:4-5)!
One must be careful to not just dwell on only one side of God. Rather, we need to take both sides togther. For "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" (Prov. 1:7, ESV), and we have been commanded to "love the LORD [our] God with all [our] heart and with all [our] soul and with all [our] strength and with all [our]mind" (Luke 10:27, ESV).
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