God’s Promise

-


Scripture: Isaiah 41:9b-10 (NIV)

[God] said, ‘You are my servant;’

I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 

Devotion:

            Our scripture today comes to us from a promise God made to Israel after their return from exile in Babylon. These words were meant to be an assurance of God’s good intentions to a people still in shock after their deportation to a foreign land. Later the servant was identified with Jesus as he rescued all people from spiritual death and destruction. Finally, the words have been interpreted to be a promise for all believers in the daily struggles of living in a world that is sometimes very hostile to their beliefs.

 

            The promise of these words today for us is very reassuring. They begin by affirming that God has indeed called believers out of the world by his sovereign choice. It is not by accident that we are Christians. God calls us because he has a plan for each of us to fulfill in his church. We each can depend on God’s salvation as his gift to each of us. Our names were written in the lamb’s book of life before any of them had come to pass. Even though we go through seasons where we may feel that God has rejected us for some reason, God here reaffirms that he is our God, and nothing can snatch us out of his mighty hands.

           

            God declares to us that we need not fear anything because he is walking right beside us through all of life’s changes. God knows that we will at times become discouraged in our walk with him, so he always assures us of his presence with us. It is a wonderous thing to know that the God who created the universe cares enough about you and me that he will walk beside us through all of life’s struggles, heartaches, and despair. Let us be encouraged then to walk our life with boldness knowing that God is right beside us on our journey.

 

            God promises to provide specific help to his beloved children. Strength and help are always available from our Father in heaven. God does not merely walk beside us as our companion along the way. He cares deeply for each of his children and seeks to help them in any way possible as they walk in his care. In this world we will have trouble, Jesus advises us, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world. Jesus echoes the Fathers promise above. For all who seek the Lord’s help will find it.

 

Prayer:

 

            Lord thank you for walking with us today. We rejoice knowing that you have not left us orphans but are a Father to each one of us. Grant that we may walk in boldness and confidence in your provision for us in this life. Help those of us who need help. Sustain the weak and faltering among us. Make your presence felt as we walk with you so that we may trust deeply in your sustaining care. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapter seven as an aid to interpreting the events that occurred last Thursday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. On that da
Read more

Father Forgive Them

-
  Scripture: Luke 23:33-34 (ESV) 33  And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Devotion:             The situation Jesus finds himself in here in today’s scripture is difficult for us to even imagine. A sham trial, no credible accusations of any kind, let alone any deserving of death, and yet here he is. A brilliant Rabbi, a teacher of the people who never led even one person astray from God’s will. This Holy One of God soon to be food for vultures.             This man who had done nothing wrong had no one in all the crowds who would speak up in his defense lest they be next to face the cross. An innocent man hung between two scoundrels. No voice from heaven declaring that this was the man that they were killing was actually the true Son of God. (See Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, John 12:28) No the heaven
Read more

Transgenderism letter

-
  This is a copy of my letter to my senators, representative, and President Biden. January 15, 2024 Dear President Biden, Senators T. Duckworth, R. Durbin, and Representative D. LaHood             I am writing to you because I am concerned about the situation affecting our children and grandchildren, namely transitioning them from one gender to another. This nation must adjust course concerning these “interventions” because they are dangerous, irreversible, and life-changing. Our country should not be permitting these procedures on minor children under any circumstances. We must also make sure that adults who seek this care are given informed consent as to the risks versus benefits of sex reassignment treatments.             There are many drawbacks to gender-affirming care for minors. Besides the loss of any ability to give or receive sexual pleasure and sterility these treatments cause, there are social and psychological effects that we have no way of identifying because these
Read more