108th Week, Isaiah Chapters 59-62

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Click on Title for Video Introduction


Monday, Isaiah Chapter 59
Isaiah 59
Verse 2
Jane Jones

Verse 2:  But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear you.

THOUGHT
I grew up in a family of three children. I was the middle child. I had an older brother who was very, very smart and was Dad’s favorite. I also had a younger sister who everyone wanted to have for a friend and was so fun loving. The jokester in the family. 

The truth is the three of us had very loving and caring parents. I loved my Mom and Dad so much that I hated it when I disappointed them. I tried really hard all the time to please them. I can reminder one night when we sat down for the evening meal, the three of us kids started arguing and quarreling. Not sure what it was about now, but it got pretty bad. Mom attempted to stop it to no avail.  She just got up and left the kitchen and house and went and sat on the back step outside by the patio. I can still remember looking out the back door and seeing her back... not her face, and knowing how we had hurt and disappointed her.

That is how we hurt our Lord at times with the things we do and the things we say. We need to think of Him when we are questioning our actions wondering if this will hurt Him, and if He will hide His face from us, just as Mom did that one evening with us kids. I know how it hurt her and us. 

Just think of how many times we have hurt our Father in Heaven. Just confess your sins to Jesus, and He will turn back to face you with love, just as Mom did that night after we apologized to her.

PRAYER
Lord, we are so sorry we have hurt You so much that You have to hide Your face from us and not hear us. We know that must be a terrible hurt, and we apologize to You for the sin we have committed. We know You love us just as our parents loved us...even more. May we come to know that love and that understanding to the point that we will never make You turn away from us again. Thank You for our Mother and for the lesson she taught us that evening without saying one word.  In The Name of Jesus.  AMEN


Tuesday, Isaiah Chapter 60
Isaiah 60
Verse 20
Jane Jones

Verse 20: “Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more;
the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.”

THOUGHT
What a promise. What a hope. Do you know how you feel when it starts to get dark on a cool, gloomy day? Do you know how you feel when you have just been dealt news of a very special family member’s death? Isaiah tells us in verse 20 that the Lord will always be your everlasting light, and our days of sorrow will end. What more can we ask for? 

Revelation confirms this news to us in Chapter 21:23, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” What peace to live our lives for.

PRAYER
There are days, Lord, that are long and tiring. But what a gift to know that at the close of the day we may know Your peace...peace of mind and peace of heart. We thank You that this peace stays with us overnight so that we wake fresh and renewed to hit another day head on. You are One in a million, Lord Jesus. From whom do You draw Your strength? May our lights that shine be Your beacon this evening, Lord. AMEN


Wednesday, Isaiah Chapter 61
Isaiah 61
Verse 2
Jane Jones

Verse 2: “To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God.”

THOUGHT
Jesus quoted these words in Luke Chapter 4. As He read to the people in the Synagogue, he stopped in the middle of 61:2 after the words, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  Rolling up the scroll, he said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21  

The phrase in 61:2, “and the day of vengeance of our God.” will come true when Jesus returns to earth again. We are now under God’s favor. His wrath is yet to come. Aren’t you glad that you have given your heart to Christ? Can you imagine what the wrath of God will be like when He comes?  I’m just so glad that we have the promise of eternal life with God in Heaven.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, we can deal with the ambulance if God is in it. We can stomach the IOU if God is in it. We can face the empty house if God is in it.  He is. Thank You for being there for us today. We can face tomorrow if God is in it.  He is.  AMEN


Thursday, Isaiah Chapter 62
Isaiah 62
Verse 12
Jane Jones

Verse 12: “They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord;
and you will be called Sought After, the City No longer Deserted.

THOUGHT
This is a great verse to end the week on.  The people of Jerusalem (Zion) will have new names - ”the Holy People” and “the Redeemed of the Lord”. How exciting it must have been for these people to be called the Holy People. 

Have you ever grouped up and served the Lord with gladness through your
church or organization? Just remember how proud you felt when you were given a name - something to identify yourself with God. Just as our group is called the Salt Shakers, we stand tall and proud.

Believers today also have new names---Christians. In Peter 2:5 we are called “a holy priesthood”.  Whatever our names, we praise God for identifying us as His family.

PRAYER
Lord, we are looking forward to the weekend and especially the sabbath.   May this weekend we work on trying to treat people the way we want God to treat us. We love You. AMEN


Friday, Power of the Book
Your Daily Journey with God
Written by David Jeremiah

Verse:  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.  

THOUGHT
The first state constitution written in America was the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639).  It was based on the Bible, and it became a model for other sate constitutions as well as for the constitution of the United States.  Since the American revolution (1776), America's biblically based constitution has remained in place.  France, by comparison, has had seven constitutions since the French Revolution (1798) that were based on Voltaire's antibiblical, humanist philosophy.  

The influence of the Bible is seen throughout America's government. The founding fathers devised a three-branch system of checks and balances because they acknowledged the depravity of man-the inability to govern himself.  It is hard not to connect America's declining moral state with the removal of the Bible from its original central place in our nation's government and schools.  Christians understand that the Bible is alive and powerful.  If the Bible is removed, its life-changing power is negated (Hebrews 4:12  -  For the word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.)

Moral and spiritual decline happens to individuals before it happens to nations.  Commit to keeping God's Word at the core of your life.

PRAYER
Father, may we do all in our power to support the Word of God.  We pray that through our daily reading we will encourage others to be in the Word.  Help us to do all that we can to keep it in our schools.  We pray also that our government leaders would see that the Word is the direction from our Lord and must be studied and followed if our country is to succeed.  Father, penetrate our souls and spirits, joints and marrow.  Put the desire on our heart to be in Your Word.  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN







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