Victory in Christ

The Isrealites at times lacked trust in God and His plan. In Isaiah chapter 30 we see them trying to do things their way. God had promised to protect them, but they were scared and made an alliance with Egypt. “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;” (Isaiah 30:1) The best ideas that any human can come up with do not compare to what God already has planned. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1Corinthians 1:25)

Today’s reading: Isaiah 28-30

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We know that God’s people did not always follow Him as they should have, but He gave them every opportunity. “O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit.” (Hosea 14:8) He promised to look after them if they would just follow Him and He makes the same promise to us today. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7) This book of prophecy from Hosea ends by giving one last encouragement to study and follow God’s word. “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” (Hosea 14:9)

Today’s reading: Hosea 8-14

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God’s words thru Hosea tell a reason that the people were ruined. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6) Without God’s word to guide our lives we will only live like the world. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) To have the knowledge of God’s word that we need to live takes work on our part. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) We have the Bereans as an example to follow for getting that knowledge and keeping it in our minds to guide us. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

Today’s reading: Hosea 1-7

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We are used to everyone having a lifespan. But, as the Psalmist said, we have a Heavenly Father who always has been and always will be. “For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.” (Psalms 48:14) Where else would we want to go for guidance?

Today’s reading: 2 Kings 18; 2 Chronicles 29-31; Psalm 48

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Isaiah chapter 26 was written as a song of praise to our heavenly Father. It was to be in response to His deliverance of the Jews. It exclaims the trust that they had in God and His power to save them from their enemies. The appreciation of the saved can be seen in these words. “With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isaiah 26:9) The seeking Him in the night and early in the morning means their desire to serve Him was constant. These are words that we should repeat in our daily lives as well. We may not have been saved from a physical conflict, but we can be saved from something more deadly, our conflict with sin.

Today’s reading: Isaiah 23-27

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Everything on this earth has a limited lifespan and will be destroyed at some point, but there is something that has an eternal lifespan and will never be weakened or destroyed. “Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.” (Isaiah 26:4) Why would we depend on any other source to guide us towards eternity?

Today’s reading: Isaiah 18-22

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As a prophet of God, Isaiah was able to share God’s words with others. Some of the prophecies foretold of God’s wrath that was to come.  “The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.” (Isa 19:1) There is no person today who can prophesy, but each of us can know and share words from God. By His providence, the inspired Word has been preserved for our benefit. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2Timothy 3:16) We can also know that God’s wrath still exists today for those who do not heed these instructions. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” (Rom 1:18)

Today’s reading: Isaiah 13-17

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The prophet Micah prophesied about some bad things that would happen, but he knew where to look for the solution to all problems. “But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” (Micah 7:7) Jesus also encouraged us to focus our energy toward that same source of strength. “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:31-34)

Today’s reading: Micah 1-7

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Isaiah chapter 12 contains great words of praise of our Heavenly Father. Verse 2 reads, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.” Similar words are found in a song that Moses and the Israelites sang after God had saved them from the Egyptians by the parting of the Red Sea. “The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2) The words of these two verses are still perfectly fitting for us today, He continues to be our strength, our song and our salvation!

Today’s reading: 2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 9-12

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Amos brought God’s word to the Israelites at a time when they were rebelling against Him. “For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: ‘Seek me and live;’” (Amos 5:4) We do not have a prophet to tell us today, but we have something just as reliable. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) The Hebrew writer explains that when we seek, we must have faith in what we are seeking. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Today’s reading: Amos 6-9

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