Victory in Christ

In this section of scripture, God is compared to someone who makes pottery. “But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8) For the clay to be turned into the final product, it takes time. If we want to be the Christian that God would have us be, we have to be longsuffering and never give up. The clay sometimes has to be reformed if it gets out of place. We must be willing to let ourselves be molded by studying His word and seeing where we need to change our lives.  He can mold us, but we have to be willing to let Him.

Today’s reading: Isaiah 64-66

Many times in scripture we see comparisons to farming and things that grow in nature.  In Isaiah chapter 61 we see another one of these comparisons.  “For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” (Isaiah 61:11)  Our Heavenly Father provides the same salvation to all people of every nation if we will sow His word into our lives.

Today’s reading: Isaiah 59-63

There are times when we do not understand what is going on in our lives, but God always knows. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 Faith in Him will lead us through anything that this world can throw at us.

Today’s reading: Isaiah 54-58

Chapter 53 of Isaiah gives a prophecy of the sufferings of our Savior. The purpose of these sufferings are credited to us.  “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isa 53:5)  In his sermon at Pentecost, Peter let the Jews know what they had done by fulfilling this prophecy.  “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”  Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Act 2:36-37)  If we truly consider the magnitude of the sacrifice and the pain that He went thru for each one of us, we should also be cut to the heart and ask the same question, “what shall we do” to serve Him.

Today’s reading: Isaiah 49-53

David made his share of mistakes, but he knew where salvation could be found.  “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD!” (Psalms 40:16)  David’s words remind us that salvation is available to everyone, but it requires us to seek God by studying and following His word.  If we consider all He has done for us, we should want to do what this verse encourages us to do; say continually, “Great is the LORD!”

Today’s reading: 2 Kings 19; Psalms 46, 80, 135

In all that the Israelites did, God was still with them.  He wanted them all to be saved, but they had responsibilities of their own. “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:22)   God wants the same for everyone today.  “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”(1Timothy 2:3-4)  Even though He wants all to be saved, it is up to us to follow Him and follow His word to receive salvation.

Today’s reading: Isaiah 44-48

Chapter 40 of the book of Isaiah begins a section of prophecy.  The prophecy is full of words of comfort to God’s people.  “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”  (Isaiah 40:1)  At this time they were in  Babylonian captivity and were being told to stay strong and trust that God was in total control.  “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;  but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)  It is easy for us to get tired and discouraged, but these words fit in our lives today just as they did then.  The Lord and His word is an everlasting strength for us.  “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

Today’s reading: Isaiah 40-43

King Hezekiah knew what to do when he needed help. “And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord” (Isaiah 37:15) The power of prayer still remains just as strong today. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16 NKJV)

Today’s reading: Isaiah 37-39; Psalm 76

Similar to the king’s command in this passage, sometimes it is in our best interest to be silent. “But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, ‘Do not answer him.'” (Isaiah 36:21 ESV) The Proverb writer gives similar advice, “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Proberbs 21:23 ESV)

Today’s reading: Isaiah 35-36

Isaiah 34-35 is a prophecy of the wrath of God on the nations that were against His people.  We know the ending: “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10)  We may not be fighting these types of physical battles, but we can still be the “ransomed of the Lord” and enjoy this same protection and promise from our Heavenly Father if we follow Him.

Today’s reading: Isaiah 31-34