Active Listening…

Read: Isaiah 49-53
Marked: Isaiah 51:7, “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, You people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, Nor be afraid of their insults.”

This is the third time God says, “Listen to Me.“ It seems people have a hard time listening to Him.

Why is it that I’ll listen to this, or to that, but fail to listen to God? Is it because I’d rather trust in my own understanding than to His word?

Do I fear the reproach of men more than the reproach of God? If I know righteousness and salvation, why should I be afraid of men and not listen to God?

Real or Fake?…

Read: Isaiah45-48
Marked: Isaiah 48:1, “Hear this, O house of Jacob, Who are called by the name of Israel, And have come forth from the wellsprings of Judah; Who swear by the name of the LORD, And make mention of the God of Israel, But not in truth or in righteousness.

I can take on the name Christian, and speak about the Lord, but if my life isn’t changed through knowing Him and walking in obedience to Him, I am only wearing a facade and not being true to my convictions.

I can pretend but not actually live in truth and righteousness. God can see through the fake. I want my walk with the Lord to be real.

Walk in His Ways…

Read: Isaiah 42-44
Marked: Isaiah 42:24, Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the LORD, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, Nor were they obedient to His law.

The Lord gave Israel up for plunder because of their sin in not walking in His ways, nor by being obedient to His law (word).

This is something to meditate on especially during this pandemic I am living through.

I may want to do things my way and even disagree with what is happening or what I’m being told. But whatever I decide to do, am I sure I am walking in God’s ways; am I being obedient to His word, or am I just wanting to do what I want to do?

I Am With You…

Read: Isaiah 36-41
Marked: Isaiah 41:10, Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

A promise from God. No matter the circumstance, God promises to uphold those who seek Him.

In Him there is no need to fear. In Him there is no reason to be dismayed. In Him is strength. In Him I find help. He will uphold me in righteousness.

Even now Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for me. That’s quite the promises.

The Real Author of Sin…

Read: Isaiah 31-35
Marked: Isaiah 31:7, For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold–sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves.

What strikes me is the last line. God does not cause sin. I choose to sin. I am the author of that which my own hands have made for myself.

But instead of leaving me in my sin, God has made a way for me to leave sin behind and be forgiven.

The Cornerstone…

Read: Isaiah 28-30
Marked: Isaiah 28:16, Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.

Wise men come and go, and from diverse places. But only Christ is the cornerstone.

No need to look elsewhere because God has clearly shown where we can find a sure foundation.

Jesus Christ, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation on which to build our lives.

When Tears are Wiped Away…

Read: Isaiah 23-27
Marked: Isaiah 25:8, He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.

Imagine death being swallowed up forever. This will happen at the end of days when Jesus sits on His throne and a new heaven and new earth are created.

Jesus will bring this to pass in His second coming. And every tear will be wiped away. This has never happened in all of history.

No more death and no more tears. What an incredible thing to look forward to.

A Key that Opens and Shuts…

Read: Isaiah 18-22
Marked: Isaiah 22:22, The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

Eliakim, the servant of the Lord, V20, is a picture of Jesus. Revelation 3:7 shows the Lord with the key of David, having the power to shut out or let in.

When we believe and receive the Lord Jesus, the door is opened. Otherwise the door remains shut.

Jesus is the door through which we must enter. He alone has the key to the tabernacle of God. Jesus also has the key to Hades and death. (Revelation 1:18)

All who reject the gospel, the good news of salvation found only in Christ will be shut out from heaven.

The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23)

The Throne will be Established…

Read: Isaiah 13-17
Marked: Isaiah 16:5, In mercy the throne will be established; And One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, Judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.

Jesus is coming and His throne will be established. He will sit on it in truth, judging and seeking Justice, and hastening righteousness. What a day that will be.

Until then, I need to do what I’ve been commanded to do; make disciples and bring others into the kingdom teaching them to observe what I’ve been commanded to do (Matthew 28:18-20).

God’s Chastening Hand…

Read: Isaiah 9-12
Marked: Isaiah 9:12b-13, For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still. For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, Nor do they seek the LORD of hosts.

This explains God allowing, even bringing, disasters upon the world intending to bring mankind back to Himself.

The end of verse 12 shows that He never chastises us without stretching His hand out to us in an offer of reconciliation. But vers 13 reveals the unwillingness of man to come and be reconciled.