95th Week, Isaiah Intro-Chapter 4

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Click on Title for Video Introduction
Monday, Isaiah Intro
Isaiah Intro
Tanya Ruden

THOUGHT
I am really excited to sit and read Isaiah. It seems this book is referenced so often in the other books of the Bible. I am hoping as I read some of the prophecies that I will recall the actual story when it occurred.

It says Isaiah was in the ministry for 60 years. Can you imagine delivering messages for that long? Also, so often what you said was not well received by those you talk too. I was thinking of Daniel, talking about those dreams.  It couldn’t have been easy telling the king his kingdom was going to falter, or that he would be in the wilderness for years. I would assume this would be how Isaiah felt at times, having to tell news not well received. He was given the news of the Messiah, and if he could hold his audience till the end, the story ended with an upbeat ending.

PRAYER
Lord, guide us as we begin to study Isaiah. Help us to learn from this prophet.  Help our knowledge of the Bible grow as we are able to recall the stories being foretold. Bless us this week as we go about our earthly duties, attempting to be great stewards of Your Word to those we encounter, always remembering Heaven awaits us. AMEN


Tuesday, Isaiah Chapter 1
Isaiah 1
Verse 18
Tanya Ruden

Verse 18:  “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land: but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.”

THOUGHT
I love this verse, and whenever I think of sheep, I think of Matt and Bart, my cousins, and their sheep growing up. I didn’t have many farm friends, and your sheep were probably the first ones I saw. What I liked about this verse is another reminder of Jesus taking our sins from us.  How desperately we need Him. No one else can do the job. 

Can you imagine spilling red grape juice on your white carpet and being able to clean it good as new?  The carpet would be white as if nothing happened. That is what God has done for us. Each day we are able to receive forgiveness if we ask and become as white as a new snowfall.

Isn’t that great? Each sin we do makes us the same bright red, and God is able to clean us. Remember this the next time you are cleaning grape juice off the floor.  Although the stain may show, you aren’t able to remove it as if had nothing happened.  It is a reminder of God’s power. (I have lots of reminders at my home. It is good to put those stains to good use.)

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, thank You for what You did on the cross to make us white as snow. During this Lenten season help us reflect on this sacrifice of love that You showed.  Remember how “pure” we are because of Your sacrifice. Thank You for answered prayer. I pray we all keep coming before You, never underestimating Your power or how You can work in our lives.  AMEN


Wednesday. Isaiah Chapter 2
Isaiah 2
Verse 11
Tanya Ruden

Verse 11:  The eyes of the arrogant mind will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

THOUGHT
Do you think this was a hard thing for the people of Jerusalem to hear? Do you think they thought of themselves as arrogant or prideful? Do you think after this was said, they discussed things like – “I wish ‘so&so’ wasn’t here because of his pride the Lord is not exalted?”  Do you think they didn’t understand why the Lord couldn’t be exalted at the current moment?  

Aside from that, do you ever find yourself prideful in your achievements when in fact it was God’s love and power that brought you to the accomplishment? We must put our pride and arrogance aside and properly glorify God for achievements.  Only then is He exalted.  Otherwise we are exalting ourselves.

PRAYER
Lord, everything we have and who we are comes from You.  It is nothing of our own doing, but all Your doing. So often an evil spirit tries to tell us how great we are and make us prideful for what we did, taking the focus off YOU, the real achiever. Help us to always put aside our prideful and arrogant ways, always thanking and praising You for things in our lives. You are awesome, and we are so thankful for Your continued blessings in our lives. AMEN


Thursday, Isaiah chapter 3
Isaiah 3
Verse 10
Tanya Ruden

Verse 10:  Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.

THOUGHT
Sometimes this verse is hard to live by on this earth. The world sees the ‘fruit of their deeds’ in the car they drive or the home they own or the vacations they take. We have such greater rewards with eternal life in Heaven, but so often it is hard to remember that when those around us seem to have so much ‘fruit’.  I am sure we often want to say, “Why Lord?”  Why does the guy next door have so much and me not so much?

We have such a far greater reward and fruit.  It is just not tangible. I pray we always remember this when the devil tries to test us with earthly possessions.

PRAYER
Father God, help us to live righteously in a world that works against us each step of the way.  Give us daily the Fruits of the Spirits.  Surround us with Godly people.  May we all have the Spirit of a Servant and the Attitude of Christ.  AMEN


Friday, Isaiah Chapter 4
Isaiah 4
Verse 2
Tanya Ruden

Verse 2:  In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel.

THOUGHT
I liked how chapter 4 goes along with the verse I selected in chapter 3. God’s people will be protected during the distress Isaiah describes. They will not be protected by their storm shelter in their house or their Hummer, but by God.  All the earthly things they own can’t protect them, only their faith.  I like to think of Jesus as the Branch. 

Jesus’ last words to us before good Friday events all stem around ‘I am the vine.’ (like a branch described here) Just another thought of what Isaiah could see in the future. How awesome that God worked through the prophets.

PRAYER
Jesus, help us to always remember to praise You for the talents You have given us to do our jobs through which You provide the means for our needs. We praise You for all our earthly gifts
which are Yours.  We thank You for letting us use them to do work on this earth for You. I pray all of our actions will be pleasing to You this week. Help us always remember to long for Heaven, not things of earthly pleasure.  These things cannot fulfill our hearts and souls, only You can. I am so thankful for faith in You and a family that supports that faith and challenges me to new heights in that faith. I love You, Jesus. AMEN





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