today's meditation (Is.61) Being Brokenhearted

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Isaiah 61:1-11) 

1    The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
     Because the Lord anointed me 
     To bring good news to the humble;
     He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
     To proclaim release to captives 
     And freedom to prisoners;
2   To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
     And the day of vengeance of our God;
     To comfort all who mourn,
3   To grant those who mourn in Zion,
     Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
     The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
     The cloak of praise instead of a disheartened spirit.
     So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
     The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

4   Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
     They will raise up the former devastations;
     And they will repair the ruined cities,
     The desolations of many generations.
5   Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,
     And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
6   But you will be called the priests of the Lord;
     You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.
     You will eat the wealth of nations,
     And you will boast in their riches.
7   Instead of your shame you will have a double portion,
     And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion.
     Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land,
     Everlasting joy will be theirs.
8   For I, the Lord, love justice,
     I hate robbery in the burnt offering;
     And I will faithfully give them their reward,
     And make an everlasting covenant with them.
9   Then their offspring will be known among the nations,
     And their descendants in the midst of the peoples.
     All who see them will recognize them 
     Because they are the offspring whom the Lord has blessed.

10 I will rejoice greatly in the Lord,
     My soul will be joyful in my God;
     For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
     He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
     As a groom puts on a turban,
     And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth produces its sprouts,
     And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
     So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise 
      To spring up before all the nations.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Because of sinful pride, people think that they can work their way to heaven.  They think that they can do things their own way, or that they can create a different way than what God has established.  Some people even believe that they are good enough as they are to get into heaven.

Christianity is not a set of dos and don'ts; it is a personal relationship with the Lord.

Salvation is from the Lord Jesus Christ.  No one is good enough to get into heaven, but we do not have to try to be "good enough" before going to the Lord for forgiveness and freedom from sin.  We are to go to Him as we are, with a humble heart, realizing our sinful nature and our need for His forgiveness.  At the same time, we receive His righteousness, and the Lord begins to change us from the inside out.  Because we go to Him brokenhearted, He will build us up in His strength and lead us in His joy.

today's meditation (Is.60) Reflecting God's Light

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Isaiah 60:1-22) 

1   “Arise, shine; for your light has come,
     And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2   For behold, darkness will cover the earth
     And deep darkness the peoples;
     But the Lord will rise upon you 
     And His glory will appear upon you.
3   Nations will come to your light,
     And kings to the brightness of your rising.

4   “Raise your eyes all around and see;
     They all gather together, they come to you.
     Your sons will come from afar,
     And your daughters will be carried on the hip.
5   Then you will see and be radiant,
     And your heart will thrill and rejoice;
     Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you,
     The wealth of the nations will come to you.
6   A multitude of camels will cover you,
     The young camels of Midian and Ephah;
     All those from Sheba will come;
     They will bring gold and frankincense,
     And proclaim good news of the praises of the Lord.
7   All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you,
     The rams of Nebaioth will serve you;
     They will go up on My altar with acceptance,
     And I will glorify My glorious house.
8   Who are these who fly like a cloud 
     And like the doves to their windows?
9   Certainly the coastlands will wait for Me;
     And the ships of Tarshish will come first,
     To bring your sons from afar,
     Their silver and their gold with them,
     For the name of the Lord your God,
     And for the Holy One of Israel because He has glorified you.

10 “Foreigners will build up your walls,
     And their kings will serve you;
     For in My wrath I struck you,
     And in My favor I have had compassion on you.
11 Your gates will be open continually;
     They will not be closed day or night,
     So that people may bring you the wealth of the nations,
     With their kings led in procession.
12 For the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you will perish,
     And the nations will be utterly ruined.
13 The glory of Lebanon will come to you,
     The juniper, the elm tree and the cedar together,
     To beautify the place of My sanctuary;
     And I will make the place of My feet glorious.
14 The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you,
     And all those who despised you will bow down at the soles of your feet;
     And they will call you the city of the Lord,
     The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15 “Whereas you have been forsaken and hated 
     With no one passing through,
     I will make you an object of pride forever,
     A joy from generation to generation.
16 You will also suck the milk of nations,
     And suck the breast of kings;
     Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior 
     And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17 Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
     And instead of iron I will bring silver,
     And instead of wood, bronze,
     And instead of stones, iron.
     And I will make peace your administrators,
     And righteousness your overseers.
18 Violence will not be heard again in your land,
     Nor devastation or destruction within your borders;
     But you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.
19 No longer will you have the sun for light by day,
     Nor will the moon give you light for brightness;
     But you will have the Lord as an everlasting light,
     And your God as your glory.
20 Your sun will no longer set,
     Nor will your moon wane;
     For you will have the Lord as an everlasting light,
     And the days of your mourning will be over.
21 Then all your people will be righteous;
     They will possess the land forever,
     The branch of My planting,
     The work of My hands,
     That I may be glorified.
22 The smallest one will become a thousand,
     And the least one a mighty nation.
     I, the Lord, will bring it about quickly in its time.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

This chapter is a prophecy about the Millennium, when Israel's covenants will be fulfilled, because they as a nation will have accepted Jesus as their Messiah, King, Lord and Savior.  And even though this prophecy doesn't necessarily pertain to us, we can always learn a little more about how amazing the Lord is.  Not only does He keep His promises, but what stands out for me today is that He is our light.  And just as Israel had been called to shine this light to other nations, we as Christians are asked to shine this light to others.

In the Lord's light, there is salvation, redemption, peace, righteousness and eternal life.  When we are saved from the darkness, we then walk in His light.  His light illuminates, clearly showing us His way, and His light reveals God's glory!  When we see the light, we see His glory.  And as we shine His light, it will demonstrate His glory.  Whatever we do or say should bring glory to the Lord.

God's light is not to be used as a spotlight to bring attention to ourselves.  Although we are going to be seen and observed by the world, our prayers should be that we live in such a way that we reflect His light, and that God's light will spread!  Oh Lord, use us to Your glory so that Your light may shine out into the dark places where people hide in unnecessary fear, and reveal their need for You!!!

today's meditation (Is.59) Going to God

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Isaiah 59:1-8) 

1   Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short 
     That it cannot save;
     Nor is His ear so dull 
     That it cannot hear.
2   But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God,
     And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
3   For your hands are defiled with blood,
     And your fingers with wrongdoing;
     Your lips have spoken deceit,
     Your tongue mutters wickedness.
4   No one sues righteously and no one pleads honestly.
     They trust in confusion and speak lies;
     They conceive trouble and give birth to disaster.
5   They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave the spider’s web;
     The one who eats of their eggs dies,
     And from what is crushed, a snake breaks out.
6   Their webs will not become clothing,
     Nor will they cover themselves with their works;
     Their works are works of wrongdoing,
     And an act of violence is in their hands.
7   Their feet run to evil,
     And they hurry to shed innocent blood;
     Their thoughts are thoughts of wrongdoing,
     Devastation and destruction are in their paths.
8   They do not know the way of peace,
     And there is no justice in their tracks;
     They have made their paths crooked,
     Whoever walks on them does not know peace.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God sees and hears everything.  And because He is holy, He cannot have a relationship with sin.  But because He is also love, He desires that all come to know Him.  So, He is always there waiting for anyone who seeks out His salvation, peace and forgiveness, in order to have a close, personal relationship with Him.

Having given us a free will, He never forces Himself on anyone.  Even once we are children of God, He still doesn't force Himself on us.  As our patient and loving Father, He will discipline us, because He wants the best for us!  He wants to bless us with His goodness!

Why would we want to stray away from the goodness of God?  Why would we wait until we are in trouble, and then wonder why God is not responding as quickly as we want, or how we want?  Why would we not seek Him out for everything, all of the time and continue on in a close relationship with our heavenly Father?  It is up to us to go to Him.  God doesn't have to come to us - He is always right there!  Waiting!!!  And wanting us to go to Him for peace, help and guidance!!!

today's meditation (Is.58) Finding Delight in God's Nearness

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Isaiah 58:1-12) 

1   “Cry loudly, do not hold back;
    Raise your voice like a trumpet,
    And declare to My people their wrongdoing,
    And to the house of Jacob their sins.

2   Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways,
    As a nation that has done righteousness 
    And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God.
    They ask Me for just decisions,
    They delight in the nearness of God.
3   ‘Why have we fasted and You do not see?
    Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’
    Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire,
    And oppress all your workers.
4   Behold, you fast for contention and strife, and to strike with a wicked fist.
    You do not fast like you have done today to make your voice heard on high!
5   Is it a fast like this that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself?
    Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed 
    And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed?
    Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord?
6   Is this not the fast that I choose:
    To release the bonds of wickedness,
    To undo the ropes of the yoke,
    And to let the oppressed go free,
    And break every yoke?
7   Is it not to break your bread with the hungry 
    And bring the homeless poor into the house;
    When you see the naked, to cover him;
    And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8   Then your light will break out like the dawn,
    And your recovery will spring up quickly;
    And your righteousness will go before you;
    The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9   Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    You will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
    If you remove the yoke from your midst,
    The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
10 And if you offer yourself to the hungry 
    And satisfy the need of the afflicted,
    Then your light will rise in darkness,
    And your gloom will become like midday.
11 And the Lord will continually guide you,
    And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
    And give strength to your bones;
    And you will be like a watered garden,
    And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
12 Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
    You will raise up the age-old foundations;
    And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
     The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

We are born with a sinful nature, so our flesh is sinful, selfish, greedy and full of pride, therefore we come into this world separated from God.  The only way we can be reconciled to Him is to accept His forgiveness and salvation.  Because of His work on the cross, He paid the price for all sin in order to make this possible.

Once we are saved, we will still struggle with sin, so we need God's grace and guidance.  Because sin impedes prayer and inhibits our relationship with God, we need to confess our sins and continually seek Him and His word.  When we fast, pray and look for answers, if our heart's desire is what the Lord desires, then He will answer us and give us direction.  

Our salvation is just like how God promised the Israelites their land, seed and blessings.  It all belongs to the nation of Israel, but when they stray from God, they are not able to enjoy these things.  It is when Israel as a nation turns their hearts to the Lord and puts their faith and belief in Him that this will all be fulfilled.  And from prophecy, we know this will happen during the Tribulation and Millennium.

In the same way, when we become Christians, we are saved and become children of God.  We cannot lose our salvation, no matter what we do or don't do, because of God's grace.  But when we stray from God, we will not be able to enjoy the blessings we would otherwise have with Him.  It is to our benefit that we continue to humble ourselves and put away sinful desires.  As we earnestly seek the Lord, we will find delight in the nearness of Him!

today's meditation (Is.57) Finding Peace and Rest

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Isaiah 57:1-21) 

1   The righteous person perishes, and no one takes it to heart;
     And devout people are taken away, while no one understands.
     For the righteous person is taken away from evil,
2   He enters into peace;
     They rest in their beds,
     Each one who walked in his upright way.
3   “But come here, you sons of a sorceress,
     Offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute!
4   Of whom do you make fun?
     Against whom do you open wide your mouth 
     And stick out your tongue?
     Are you not children of rebellion,
     Offspring of deceit,
5   Who inflame yourselves among the oaks,
     Under every luxuriant tree,
     Who slaughter the children in the ravines,
     Under the clefts of the rocks?
6   Among the smooth stones of the ravine 
     Is your portion, they are your lot;
     Even to them you have poured out a drink offering,
     You have made a grain offering.
     Should I relent of these things?
7   On a high and lofty mountain 
     You have made your bed.
     You also went up there to offer sacrifice.
8   Behind the door and the doorpost 
     You have set up your sign;
     Indeed, far removed from Me, you have uncovered yourself,
     And have gone up and made your bed wide.
     And you have made an agreement for yourself with them,
     You have loved their bed,
     You have looked at their manhood.
9   You have journeyed to the king with oil 
     And increased your perfumes;
     You have sent your messengers a great distance 
     And made them go down to Sheol.
10 You were tired out by the length of your road,
     Yet you did not say, ‘It is hopeless!’
     You found renewed strength,
     Therefore you did not faint.

11 “Of whom were you worried and fearful 
     When you lied, and did not remember Me 
     Nor give Me a thought?
     Was I not silent, even for a long time,
     So you do not fear Me?
12 I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,
     And they will not benefit you.
13 When you cry out, let your collection of idols save you.
     But the wind will carry them all up,
     And a breath will take them away.
     But the one who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land 
     And possess My holy mountain.”

14 And it will be said,
     “Build up, build up, prepare the way,
     Remove every obstacle from the way of My people.”
15 For this is what the high and exalted One 
     Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, says:
     “I dwell in a high and holy place,
     And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit 
     In order to revive the spirit of the lowly 
     And to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I will not contend forever,
     Nor will I always be angry;
     For the spirit would grow faint before Me,
     And the breath of those whom I have made.
17 Because of the wrongful act of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him;
     I hid My face and was angry,
     And he went on turning away, in the way of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
     I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,
19 Creating the praise of the lips.
     Peace, peace to him who is far away and to him who is near,”
     Says the Lord, “and I will heal him.”
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
     For it cannot be quiet,
     And its waters toss up refuse and mud.
21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

The idiom, "You made your bed and now you have to lie in it," has some truth in it.  If a person makes their own bed anywhere here on earth, it is temporary and it is doomed.  But if we put our faith and trust in the Lord, He "makes our bed" in the heavens!  Perfect eternal heavenly peace and rest!!!

As Christians, we do not have to fear death.  In fact, I look forward to going to heaven!  Immensely so!!!  Before the rapture, all believers who passes away, enters a heavenly rest.  When the rapture happens, those who are asleep in Christ will be caught up first, and then those believers who are alive will be caught up.  Talk about the best possible way to go!!!  (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Now, even though I do not fear death itself, I can find myself fearing the thought of "how" I am going to die.  At such times, besides confessing this fear to the Lord, I remind myself to trust Him!  I can give the Lord all my worries and cares, and then wait and rest in Him!!!  He knows when and how I am going to die, and when that does happen, He will give me the help I need in that moment.  As verse 16 above relays, He knows our limits!  And He knows exactly what we need!

Trusting that the Lord will sort everything out for us - this is a peace and rest we can experience right now!!!

today's meditation (Is.56) Being a Christian

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Isaiah 56:1-12) 

1   This is what the Lord says:
     “Guard justice and do righteousness,
     For My salvation is about to come 
     And My righteousness to be revealed.
2   Blessed is a man who does this,
     And a son of man who takes hold of it;
     Who keeps from profaning the Sabbath,
     And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
3   Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,
     “The Lord will certainly separate me from His people.”
     Nor let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”
4   For this is what the Lord says:
     “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,
     And choose what pleases Me,
     And hold firmly to My covenant,
5   To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial,
     And a name better than that of sons and daughters;
     I will give them an everlasting name which will not be eliminated.

6   “Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
     To attend to His service and to love the name of the Lord,
     To be His servants, every one who keeps the Sabbath so as not to profane it,
     And holds firmly to My covenant;
7   Even those I will bring to My holy mountain,
     And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
     Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar;
     For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
8   The Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares,
     “I will yet gather others to them, to those already gathered.”

9   All you wild animals,
     All you animals in the forest,
     Come to eat.
10 His watchmen are blind,
     All of them know nothing.
     All of them are mute dogs unable to bark,
     Dreamers lying down, who love to slumber;
11 And the dogs are greedy, they are never satisfied.
     And they are shepherds who have no understanding;
     They have all turned to their own way,
     Each one to his unjust gain, without exception.
12 “Come,” they say, “let’s get wine, and let’s drink heavily of intoxicating drink;
     And tomorrow will be like today, only more so.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

You can say that you desire justice, but are you willing to obey the law and do the right things?  Just like saying you are a Christian, the question then becomes - ARE you a Christian?  are you BEING a Christian?  If you say you are a Christ-follower, are you following what Jesus Christ the Lord says?

It doesn't matter who you are or where you are from, when you place your faith and trust in Jesus, you become a child of God!  And the only way - is not our way - but the Lord's way - - - one must be born again through Jesus Christ.  He does it for us!

As a child of God, we can hold on firmly and we do have eternal security.  And the only way - is not our way - but the Lord's way - - - we are sealed with the Holy Spirit.  He does it for us!

And as a child of God, we should desire to live in God's will.  And the only way - is not our way - but the Lord's way - - - we must allow God to change us from the inside out, lead and guide us, and be our strength.  His righteousness becomes our righteousness.  He does it for us!  

In all of this, we are blessed!