What we want and what God wants can sometimes be two completely different scenarios. We have plans…big plans, exciting plans…but suddenly they evaporate in front of our eyes and we’re miffed. That’s when that tiny conjunction “if” comes into play, for it pits our will against God’s Will. But if we can look at that word more like Paul did…trusting the Lord to do the very best in all situations for him, rather than bristling when things didn’t work out the way he wanted, we’d be much better off. Think about this…God’s Will is His divine purpose to will and to do His good pleasure…it’s His gracious disposition towards us to do what’s the very best for us. So why wouldn’t we want God’s Will first and foremost for our lives?
I Peter 2:10 ” Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
This thought of God’s expression of compassion towards us is first found in Hosea 2:23 and echoed in Romans 9:25-26, “I will call them ‘My people’ who are not My people; I will call her ‘My Loved One’ who is not My loved one.” The Lord has called His Bride – the Church – out of darkness into His wonderful light…calling the Church His Loved One. He has taken pity on our wretchedness and has showered us with undeserved mercy…simply because He loves and treasures us as His own. Thank You Lord for Your compassion!
Jeremiah 29:11 ” ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ “
This verse comes from a letter that Jeremiah wrote to his fellow Jews that had been carried into exile by the Babylonians. For even though much of his earlier prophecies had been that of judgment, this letter was full of great promise and hope for them. And so today on this very first day of 2021 I declare this verse into our lives. For if you’re like me, most of 2020 felt like being an exile myself…displaced and forced to be absent from everything I once considered normal. But God hasn’t changed, nor has He forgotten us or what He wants to accomplish through us. So today let’s all face this new year with renewed hope for the future.
Isaiah 51:16 ” I have put My Words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of My hand – I Who set the heavens in place, Who laid the foundations of the earth, and Who say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’ “
Today, as we not only come to the end of Isaiah 51 but the year 2020, I think it’s no coincidence that we’re looking at this particular verse. It can only encourage and comfort us…for we know our God has all dominion, power, and authority over the Corona Virus. We also know that He is protecting and safeguarding us, our family and friends as we pray daily for them. Finally, we can take courage as we face the new year because God’s plan and purpose for us has not changed…He is still passing on divine revelation in order that more may be reached for Christ. So as God told Moses in Exodus 4:12, “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
Isaiah 51:15 ” For I am the Lord your God, Who churns up the sea so that its waves roar – the Lord Almighty is His name.”
In Exodus 14:21-22, we see God’s miracle of dividing the Red Sea in order that the Israelites might cross on dry land…a wall of water on either side of them as they walked. In the New Testament, we see Jesus speaking to the wind and waves to still them with a single command. This is the kind of awesome power God has…for the Lord Almighty is the mightiest Warrior, our all-powerful King, and Ruler over the entire universe. Isaiah 13:4 tells us, “…like nations massing together the Lord Almighty is mustering an army for war.” This year of COVID19 and the Pandemic, God is urging His people to a much higher calling, for He is gathering and organizing troops for battle from all across the nations in order to see His glory demonstrated to the weary world that desperately needs a Savior right now. The question is…are you available?
Isaiah 51:14 ” For where is the wrath of the oppressor? The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread.”
The figurative use of the Hebrew word for dungeon in this verse gives the imagery of a pit in which snares were laid for wild animals. And in some ways, we have all felt like we’ve been sitting in a pit this past year…isolated, alone, and afraid. But we can take heart that the Lord wants to pull us out of this gloomy place…”To open the eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:7) For it’s the Lord’s compassion and mercy that says to the captives, “Come out,” and to those in darkness, “Be free!” (Isaiah 49:10) … that’s because God is in the liberating business…”Shattering the yoke of burden and the rod of the oppressor.” (Isaiah 9:4)
Isaiah 51:13 ” …that you forget the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction?”
This year has been one of fear and trembling over a virus that’s determined to harm, devastate, and kill. (The wrath of the oppressor bent on destruction) This fear has been perpetual, with little interruption or peace. But as we have grappled with it, we need to be reminded… it’s our Creator Who firmly established the foundations of the earth and is in complete control of all situations…COVID 19 included. For when we forget God, the end result can only be destruction…”Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. (Job 8:13)
Isaiah 51:12 ” I, even I, am He Who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass…”
If anything, you can say for sure this year has been a year of uncertainty. From the beginning, when details about the Corona Virus were limited, to almost daily changing opinions about it, to the terrible and deadly impact it has had on so many…no wonder there is so much distrust, and doubt. That’s because it’s mere mortal men that are giving us information about a virus no one has ever seen or studied before. This verse tells us that placing our trust in man is worthless…for humans beings are frail and weak, and born to die like withering grass. We are to instead, look to the Lord… trusting Him to bring us through this pandemic, placing our faith in Him alone to do so, and believing in His compassionate mercy.
Isaiah 51:11 ” The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and signing will flee away.”
For the next few days I’m going to focus on this particular passage in Isaiah 51:11-16. Early on in the COVID 19 Pandemic these verses brought me much comfort as I realized the hope that lie within them. For you will see quickly that the theme of this whole passage is about redemption….of being brought back out of the suffering and darkness into the light and joy by our Lord. This verse holds promise for all of us…found in the simple word “will”. For someday, by His volition, the Lord will return and with Him joy and gladness as sorrow will have to flee…or as Revelation 7:17 tells us, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Luke 2:7 “…and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
The question I have for you this Christmas morning is this…do you have room for Jesus? Is there room in your life and in your heart for the Savior of your soul…or are you too busy, too selfish, or too resistive to even consider giving Him room? Today it’s all about the giving and receiving of presents…but there’s something much more important than presents I’m speaking of…it’s His Presence in your life. To personalize Psalm 21:6, “Surely You have granted me eternal blessings and made me glad with the joy of Your Presence.” By trusting in Jesus, your life can be filled with His Presence here on earth…knowing that someday you will stand face to face in His glorious Presence forever. Or as Jude 24-25 tells us, “To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and present you before His glorious Presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” The presents under the tree this morning won’t last…they’ll wear out, break, and fade…but the Lord’s Presence in your life will last for eternity.
Safetypinlove 