Human nature and the world today tells us that we can be a success solely by our own efforts. Everywhere you see the hype to be independent, self-reliant, and self-sufficient. But it tells us here that God humbled His people by challenging their self-sufficiency & testing their obedience simply by letting them go hungry. He then provided a miraculous provision called manna to further teach them the necessity for dependence on Him and Him alone. At any instant, God can strip us of our proud independent spirit, leaving us with a life-changing choice to make. In that humbling moment, Job 22: 21-23 exhorts us to submit, accept instruction, laying up God’s Word in our heart, and return to the Almighty that we might be restored.
Month: February 2022
Mark 13:32 ” No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son but only the Father.”
People of all ages have tried to predict the Second Coming, all the way back to the disciples who pressed Jesus to tell them when the Kingdom would be restored. His answer to them was, “It isn’t for you to know the times or dates…” (Acts 1:7) So the next time you hear someone claiming to know when the Day of Judgment is going to take place…think of this…if God hasn’t even told His Son, Jesus, do you really think He would spill the beans to that person?
Isaiah 55:11 ” So is My Word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
So how important is knowing God’s Word? Pretty important according to this Scripture. Where sin dulls our senses, the Word of God will produce the most exquisite pain of conviction…cutting through to our inner parts and deepest recesses of our being, revealing His truth to us. But unless we’ve tasted of His Word and stored it in our hearts, we’ll come to rely on our common sense instead. Yet the Word of God never speaks of common sense or of acting impulsively…that’s because His Word is flawless. Instead, God’s Word is inspirational, living, and active…revealing knowledge, truth, and revelation…and never returns to Him void.
Matthew 5:8 ” Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
As a Follower of Christ there are certain responsibilities I must answer to…things I am accountable for in order to have clean hands and a pure heart…which means a determined life style where all my actions, thoughts, and motives are righteous ones. You may call it purity of heart and mind…you may call it holiness, but either way, it’s Spiritual harmony with God. For me, it’s a conscious effort daily… choosing to remain clean from the world’s pollution of sin. Is it easy? NO! But I am told in Hebrews 12:14 to, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; for without holiness no one will see the Lord.” The promise here is that in the end I will experience and share in God’s Presence, which will make it all worth it as I behold His face.
Isaiah 40:28 ” Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.”
Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t give up on us? He remains faithful even when we are far from being faithful to Him. His patience towards us will never be drained or worn out… His tolerance will never be spent…His pleasure in us will never be exhausted or sapped. That’s because it says here that God will never grow tired or weary…even though it’s us that usually get impatient, and angry at the smallest of things…giving up after only a half-hearted attempt! We thank You Lord today for not giving up on Your people!
Isaiah 40:26 ” Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He Who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”
Psalm 89:11 adds to this idea of God’s sovereignty and Rulership over the entire universe when it says, “The heavens are Yours, and Yours also the earth; You founded the world and all that’s in it.” So when Isaiah said, “Lift up your eyes and look…” he was speaking of where our spiritual focus was. Has your spiritual focus been on your idols rather than on the Lord? Have your eyes been blinded by selfishness, pride, and rebellion? Today, you need to look above your present problems to see the greater picture…for if God can shepherd the stars…naming each one individually, He can surely shepherd His people.
Isaiah 40: 15,17 & 23 ” Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales. Before Him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by Him as worthless and less than nothing. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.”
With all the saber rattling, threats of military force, and warmongering happening in the world lately, a healthy dose of God’s perspective on the subject sounds good to me today. Here in Isaiah 40 we very clearly see God’s sovereignty over all human powers, and that in His eyes all superpowers of the world are counted as no more than dust. His rule of rulers has been validated over and over again by fulfilled prophecies we see in the Bible. And so even today remember, God remains in complete control…His activity and ethical obligation continuing to execute justice and mercy to all mankind.
Isaiah 40:11 ” He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.”
In John 10:11 Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd, and in this Scripture we can see the expressions of His tender caring for the flock. During His ministry here on earth, Jesus would look at the harassed crowds and have compassion on them, for they were like scattered, helpless sheep… wandering off by themselves…becoming easy prey for the enemy…for He said, “they were without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36) But our Good Shepherd searches out the lost, leading and guiding them, and looking after the weak. Or as Isaiah 63:9 tells us, “In His love and mercy He redeems them; He lifts them up and carries them.”
Isaiah 40:8 ” The grass withers and the flowers fail, but the Word of our God stands forever.”
The Word of God is both judgment and blessing…declared before the beginning of time. His Word, the fulfillment and realization that knows no past or future for it remains eternal. Finally, we see here God’s Word is trustworthy, for God always does what He has said He will do, and does what He has promised. That’s because, God’s Word has stood the test of time and will continue to forever and ever.
Isaiah 40:5 ” And the glory of the Lord will be revealed , and all mankind together will see it.”
The Second Coming of Christ…have you ever thought about it? How will it happen, and how will all mankind together witness it at the very same moment? Logistically, our simple brain finds that impossible…but we need to remember, nothing is impossible for God. And how will Jesus Christ in all His majesty, glory and power appear…unveiled in stark revelation…yet immediately recognized by all, both Believer, Non-Believer, and those who may have never heard the word Jesus spoken before? Isaiah 34:4 tells us that the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky will roll up like a scroll. And every hand will go limp and every man’s heart melt in terror, pain, and anguish. (Isaiah 13:7-8) No one knows what Jesus looks like…yet we will all know it is Him.
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