Wed.’s Devo - Citizens of Two Kingdoms

Read: Isaiah 60:1-62:5; Philippians 1:27-2:18; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 24:11-12 As darkness is over the rest of the world, God’s light is going to shine over Jerusalem. It will be so glorious that other nations will come to it. Their children will return and the wealth of other nations will come to them. Foreigners will rebuild their towns and their kings will serve her. Those that refuse to serve Jerusalem will be destroyed. The curse over Jerusalem will be totally reversed. Salvation will be their walls and praise will be on everyone’s lips. The Lord will be the light and all the people will be righteous forever. This chapter coincides with Revelation 21. This is a description of the Holy Jerusalem in the millennium. Chapter 62 is a picture of the children of Israel when they came back to Jerusalem after being exiled for 70 years. It is also a picture of what will happen in the end when the world has gone through the Great Tribulation and we come back to dwell on the earth. We will have to clean up and restore the earth. God will change Jerusalem’s name from that of being “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land”. To “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God.” Paul admonishes us to live as we already live in “The City of God’s Delight”. We are citizens of heaven while we are also citizens of earth. Jesus took up the humble position of being a servant while he was on earth, but now he is exalted to the highest place of honor in heaven and one day every knee will bow to him in heaven and on earth and declare that he is Lord. We are to have that same humble attitude towards others that Christ had. At the same time, we realize that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. Lord, thank you for reminding us that we are citizens of two cities: one on earth and one in heaven. May what we do in the earth reflect what you are doing in heaven.

Tues.’s Devo - To Live for Christ …

Read: Isaiah 57:15-59:21; Philippians 1:1-26; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 24:9-10 God who is high and holy comforts his people by letting them know that he would not be angry forever. He knew that to do that would make man hopeless. Man’s sins made him retreat for a while, but he will come back to restore. God responds quickly to the crushed and humble, but the wicked will not find his rest. God told Isaiah to be his trumpet telling the people their sins so they could repent. They had a form of righteousness and went through the rituals of religion but none of that pleased the Lord. It displeased him because their hearts were far from Him. The wickedness of their hearts came out in how they treated others. They oppressed those who worked for them and overlooked the poor and needy. God told them the type of fasting they needed to do. It wasn’t food they needed to fast from it was denying their flesh. They needed to stop feeding their soul with wickedness and repent. If they helped the poor and needy then their souls would prosper. They slandered their neighbor and brought them to court over trumped up charges made of lies. God told them that he was just and honest and they needed to be also. God was amazed to see that there was no justice and no one was trying to change that. So, God himself stepped in to change the situation. He put on his robe of the judge and judged the wicked of their deeds. When He did, the fear of his name would fill the earth and he would redeem the ones who had turned away from their sins to follow him. Paul wrote to the church in Philippi to thank them for their generous gift and their loving support while he was in prison. The church in Philippi was very mission minded and full of love. We know that by what John wrote to this church. He called it the church of brotherly love. Paul was closer in friendship with this church than any of the churches. He prayed grace and peace to them and told them of the joy they gave to his heart. He prayed that what they have would grow and mature and reminded them of what really matters in life. That is to always be filled with the great of their salvation which is the righteous character produced in their lives by Jesus Christ. He told them of all the opportunities his chains had gotten him to share the gospel. He assured them that everything he had gone through and was going through was worth it because the gospel was being preached and that was the main goal. Lord, thank you for people like Isaiah and Paul who have gone before us to show us that the gospel of Jesus Christ is worth dying for and living for. May we live in reverent fear of You.

Mon.’s Devo - Be Equipped to Stand

Read: Isaiah 54:1-57:14; Ephesians 6:1-24; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 24:8 Isaiah spoke prosperity into a barren nation who had been so disgraced and humiliated. God was bringing restoration and redemption to them. God’s discipline time was over and with love and compassion he was welcoming them back to him. He was bringing them back to a place where they and their families would be able to rest in peace and security under a just government. All the nations that come against them now will be defeated. No weapon will prosper against them. This new promise to them was not just to the young Israelite but to the old, the outcast and the foreigner. It was for anyone who wanted to be a part of God’s people. God rebuked the blind and ignorant leaders, prophets and pastors. They had been intent on personal gain and their own entertainment. Those that had followed the idolatry of the nations they were taken captive in would be punished for their crimes. Their idols would not protect them from God’s punishment. Those who trusted in the Lord during exile would inherit the land and possess the holy mountain of Jerusalem. In Ephesians, Paul spoke to the individual as Isaiah spoke to the nation. He told them to obey their parents and to honor them because this was the right thing to do. He told employees to honor their bosses and to work as if they were working for the Lord. He spoke to the bosses and told them to treat their employees like they would want God to treat them. He reminded them to be strong in God’s power and to remember that they are not fighting people but spirits in high places. They would need every piece of armor to resist the enemy. They were told to put on truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and to take the Word of God into every situation. Also, to pray in the Spirit, stay alert and don’t give up on their praying. Paul also asked for prayer for himself to he could adequately proclaim the truth of God’s Good News. Lord, may we walk in your armor surrounded in your presence today.

Sun.’s Devo - Redemption Has Come

Read: Isaiah 51:1-53:12; Ephesians 5:1-33; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 24:7 Isaiah called Israel to remember their roots in Abraham and Sarah and the promises given them of their nation. The same salvation that delivered them and gave them an inheritance would now save them and all the generations to come. God still had great plans for the remnant to return to Jerusalem with joy and gladness. He told them to not be afraid of mere humans who live and die, but to trust in the Lord who is from everlasting to everlasting. He is the one with the plan and it is a good one of life and prosperity. He asked them if they would always be in fear of human oppressors and their anger because it was gone. God stirs up the sea and causes its waves to roar and it is the stirring and the roaring of his army. But, now that the war is over and they are safe, God was calling them to rise up from the dust and take their place of honor. God had redeemed them. They had been captive in a land that blasphemed his name all day long but He has revealed his name to his survivors and he had good news of peace and salvation for them. He urged them to get out of the place of their captivity and return to Jerusalem. Isaiah 53 has to be the greatest, most detailed Old Testament prophecy about Jesus’ first coming. When I read it I can’t help but want to repent for selfishness and pride. Jesus was the ultimate picture of humility and obedience to his Father’s plan. In Ephesians, Paul tells them to imitate God by following Jesus’ example. Jesus was imitating his Father. Just like Isaiah prophesied for the children of Israel to wake up and go back to their land and leave Egypt, Paul was calling the church to wake up and leave their sinful lives and walk in the light of Christ. He explained the role of a Christian by using marriage. Christ is the husband and we are the wife. We submit to him and he loves us. Lord, may our lives be in submission to you and may we understand the love you have for us as your bride. When you return, may we be the spotless bride you so deserve. Thank you for redeeming us as your own.

Sat.’s Devo - In God We Trust

Read: Isaiah 48:12-50:11; Ephesians 4:17-32; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 24:5-6 God had a word for his family, his chosen ones. He didn’t want them to faint in fear because He was the first and the last. He was the one determining the fate of the world and their deliverance. He was their creator and had the power to change their circumstances. He had chosen Cyrus, a Persian king to put an end to Babylon with God’s help. Right now, President Trump is a type of Cyrus who God is helping to drain the swamp in America and release us from the spirit of Babylon. If they had listened and obeyed God’s commands they wouldn’t have needed a Cyrus to come and deliver them. Isaiah reminded them of what it was like to walk with God and let him meet their needs and do wonders for them. God had sent Isaiah to bring his glory to the earth He felt as if no one was hearing him or heeding his warnings but he had to leave it all in the Lord’s hands. He was sent to bring Israel back to him and to be a light to the Gentiles who would also share in God’s salvation. Israel had been hated by other nations, but Isaiah prophesied that one day all the nations would bow to them and respect them. We see that in our day as most of the Nobel Prize winners have been Jews. They have done more to be a blessing to the world than any other country due to the genius God has given them. Isaiah spoke into the day that they would return to Jerusalem and be comforted and blessed. Their land would once again be occupied and crowded with people. I have seen the return in my day as Jews from all over the world have come back to Israel to live among their own people. It has been a family reunion as they have found cultural family to replace their own losses. Only God could release a people from their captives. He reminds them that this hadn’t happened to them because God hated them but because they had rejected him as their Father. He never rejected them. They didn’t cry out for Him to help them so he let them be taken into foreign lands so they would remember who their daddy was. Isaiah prophesied against all opposition and persecution. He spoke God’s words and he had no regrets. He knew that God’s opinion was all he cared about. In Ephesians, Paul uses the word “Gentile” to represent the unsaved. He was called to bring the good news to the Gentiles so he loved them. But, he considers the redeemed to be a part of God’s family, not ‘Gentiles’ anymore. He admonishes them to not return to the sins of their past life but to allow the Spirit to renew their thoughts and attitudes and put on God’s nature which is truly righteous and holy. To live unholy was to bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit. He reminded them that the Holy Spirit was their guarantee of their salvation on the day of redemption. He told them to replace their bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander and evil behavior with tenderheartedness and forgiveness. Lord, this is such a reminder to us who want to fight our battles using the arm of the flesh instead of relying on your arm of victory. Forgive us and save us as a nation and a people who trust in you.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Perfect Plan

Read: Isaiah 45:11-48:11; Ephesians 4:1-16; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 24:3-4 God asks the people if they think he needs to ask them permission for what he is doing with the creation he made. He tells them that he is bringing a leader named Cyrus who will do what He wants to have happen. He will rebuilt Jerusalem and let the people return from their exile. Other nations will come to Jerusalem and come to them for help because they recognize that God is with them. Those who trusted in their idols will be dissappointed in them. God did not make the earth to be a place of empty chaos. God will be found of his people. Refugees will come from other nations carrying their idols that never helped them. God challenges their idols and tells them to look to him instead. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that God is the Lord and that He is the source of all righteousness and strength. All who were angry with God will come to him and be ashamed. God has something to say to Babylon the seat of confusion. Many of Israel and Judah had been taken to Babylon, but God was proclaiming freedom for his people and judgment to Babylon. They had boasted that what they did to others would never happen to them, but God said that it would. Their witchcraft and magic would not be able to save them. God spoke to his own people and told them that they had been stubborn and obstinate. He had sent prophet after prophet to tell them destruction and exile was coming but they had refused to listen. Even when it happened they refused to acknowledge it was the Lord doing it. So now God was going to tell them new things and secrets that they had not yet heard. God had refined them in the furnace of suffering, but one day He would one day rescue them for His name’s sake. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he admonishes them to be patient with each other. Everyone has faults but Chris’t love in us will bind us together in unity. People will never be perfect but we have this common bond in Jesus. He is the one that it worthy to be praised and adored. Christ gave his gifts to us so that we might bless others with them. Jesus came to earth to give us a new government of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers. Their responsibility to to equip the saints to continue Christ’s work on the earth. When we work together we look like Christ’s body here on earth. Lord, help us to find our place in your body and use the gifts you have given us to equip our fellow brothers and sisters. Help us to administer grace and forgiveness for each others’ faults and cover them with love.

Thur.’s Devo - Our Purpose

Read: Isaiah 43:14-45:10; Ephesians 3:1-21; Psalm 68:1-18; Provers 24:1-2 God told Isaiah what he was going to do with the nations that were in power. Babylon would be forced to escape in the nice ships they were so proud of building. He reminded them of how he killed the Egyptians in the Red Sea. That was nothing compared to what he was going to do now. Instead of drying up waters, God was going to bring water to the desert. He rebuked Judah for not asking the Lord for help. They had hired Egypt to help them. He rebuked Israel of growing tired of waiting on Him. They had neglected to sacrifice to the Lord and their sins had stacked up. In spite of all of this, God was the one to blot out their sins for His sake, but first he had to examine their case. This was what He found. They had sinned from the very first man. Their leaders had sinned against his law. He decreed complete destruction for Jacob and shame for Israel, but their descendants would be blessed. God would pour out his spirit on them and they would declare that He was their God. Isaiah went on to paint a picture of how foolish they had become. They manufactured their gods from the same piece of wood they used to make a fire and warm their houses. They bowed down to this hand-made idol and expected it to answer them. God had proved that their idols were worthless and their prophets were liars. His prophets had told them that people will once again live in the towns of Judah and it will be rebuilt and restored. God would use Cyrus to rule over the nations and he would level the ones who have risen up above the people. Even though Cyrus didn’t know the Lord, God would choose to use him to rebuild Jerusalem. He did that very thing in Ezra. He sent Ezra to Jerusalem with all the money he would need to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Today, we have a modern day Cyrus in the White House. All the nations are afraid of him and will be even more. He will rebuild the Temple of the Lord in America. In Ephesians, Paul explains what grace really is. Paul was so honored to be able to give this grace to the Gentiles. Grace and mercy are two different things. Mercy is receiving pardon for something we deserve to pay for. Grace is the power to walk in that mercy as an overcomer and not a person of shame. Paul says it is by God’s grace and mighty power that he was given the privilege of serving God by spreading the Good News. The church’s purpose is to display God’s wisdom to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly place. That is something to contemplate! It made Paul fall to his knees and praise the Lord for his power and pray for inner strength through the Holy Spirit. Lord, show us how we can display your wisdom to the powers and principalities of the air. May we fulfill the churches’ purpose on the earth.

Wed.’s Devo - The Importance of the Prophet

Read: Isaiah 41:17-43:13; Ephesians 2:1-22; Psalm 67:1-7; Proverbs 23:29-35 God has great promises for those who search for water. He means more than physical water. Those who realize the need for God’s spirit will be filled to overflowing. God sarcastically told them to present their case for their idols and have them tell the future…if they can. He teased them to tell their idols to do anything - amazing or frightening. Of course, they could do nothing at all. God had an answer and it would come through Cyrus, 150 years later. None of their idols told them deliverance was on the way. Cyrus would be a predecessor of The Messiah who would be filled with God’s Spirit and bring justice to the nations. He will not stop until justice prevails throughout the earth. Only God’s prophet can tell the future before it happens. Isaiah told them to praise the Lord with a new song - one of joy and praise. God was coming like a mighty hero. Isaiah was like a woman in labor birthing a new nation. He was telling them that God was going to level their mountains and hills - the mighty men and government that opposed them and he was going to lead them down a path they had never traveled. He would bring light to their path and if they trusted him they would not be disappointed. God rebuked them for recognizing what was right but refusing to act on it. God had used every method to try to get them to learn to have faith but it had been in vain. But God was calling out his remnant to not be afraid. He was going to be with them through their difficult storms and the trials of life. What God was about to do, no one could have seen it and no one could have done it but the Lord. This is exactly what the Lord is about to do for America. In Ephesians we have the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. God’s will was to save not only Jerusalem and its people but the Jews and the Gentiles. His glorious Spirit and salvation was a gift to the world. We are God’s house built on the foundation of the apostles of the New Testament and the prophets of the Old. Lord, thank you for your fulfilled promises. May we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit living out our destiny. Thank you for your prophets that still speak forth your word and tell us the future before it happens.

Tues.’s Devo - Complete in Christ

Read: Isaiah 39:1-41:16; Ephesians 1:1-23; Psalm 66: 1-20; Proverbs 23:25-28 Not long after God healed Hezekiah and gave him fifteen more years to live, the son of the king of Babylon sent an envoy with a gift to congratulate his healing. Hezekiah should have discerned that something was fishy about this. Jerusalem had been the only city that the Assyrians had not been able to take. Instead of asking God, Hezekiah welcomed them in and showed off all his kingdom. He left nothing hidden from them. When they had gone, Isaiah came to see Hezekiah and asked him about their visit. When he told him all he had shown them, Isaiah told him that because he foolishly showed them everything, everything he owned would be theirs. Even his own sons would be eunuchs in Babylon. Hezekiah knew that whatever Isaiah said would come true, but his relief was that it wouldn’t happen while he was alive. Isaiah has just prophesied that the Assyrians were going to come and take everything and they would be carried away to Babylon and then he prophecies comfort. He was already looking forward to the day that they would return and John the Baptist would come and preach the good news about the Messiah. He spoke into the future when God would have his way on the earth. God will call his church out and then he will redeem Israel and they will once again rise and know their God. They will see his power as he fights for them. The purpose of the letter to the Ephesians was to unveil the mystery of the church - her main mission. The church was to express to the world who God is and what his purpose is. God wants us to understand the incredible greatness of God’s power. God put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. We are his body and we are made complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. Lord, may we be the expression of You on the earth.

Mon.’s Devo - Humility and Repentance Brings Deliverance

Read: Isaiah 37:1-38:22; Galatians 6:1-18; Psalm 65:1-13; Proverbs 23:24 Yesterday we read where the leaders of Jerusalem brought the message from the wall of what the Assyrians were going to do to Jerusalem. They were distraught, but Hezekiah knew what to do. He tore his clothes in humility and put on burlap, the sign of mourning and repentance. He took the report to the Temple of the Lord and sent his men in the same clothing to Isaiah to tell him the report. When they told Isaiah the report, he didn’t blink an eye, he sent back to Hezekiah God’s report. God said not to worry about these Assyrians, God would take care of them. Sennecheruib would receive a message that he was needed at home and when he returns, he will be killed with a sword. Sure enough, Sennecherib found out that the King of Ethiopia was leading an army to fight against him and he left to fight him. He sent Hezekiah this message: Don’t think that your God has won because I am coming back. Then he reminded him of all the nations he had conquered. Hezekiah took this letter into the Temple and spread it out for the Lord to read. He told God that it was true what the Assyrians had done to other nations and their gods, but their gods were not real. They were just stone and wood and he knew that God was a real God. He cried out to God to save them and to let them know that He alone was Lord. Isaiah sent the king a message saying that because he had prayed about this, God was coming to save them against the arrogant Sennecherib and his army. God gave Hezekiah a sign: this year they would eat what grew up by itself, the next year they would eat what grew up from that and the next year they would plant again and harvest their own crop. God did come with his army and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning they found their fellow soldiers corpses all around them. Can you imagine the terror? The King took the rest of them home to Nineveh and one day while he was worshiping in the temple of his god, Nisroch, his own sons killed him with their swords. About that same time, Hezekiah became sick and was told by Isaiah to set his affairs in order because he was going to die. Hezekiah cried out to the Lord and reminded him of his faithfulness toward Him. So God relented and promised him 15 more years. Hezekiah should have died when God said it was time. In Galatians, Paul brings them all down a notch. He encourages them to help someone who has fallen into sin, because they are not greater than that person just because they hadn’t fallen. He reminded them that God is the God of justice and He will decide every man’s fate. Their job is to live their own lives for Him and not judge another man’s walk. Our boast is in Christ, not ourselves. Lord, may we be like Hezekiah and humble ourselves before you because you alone can save our nation. We pray for our leaders that they would humble themselves and see you as the only answer and we pray for your deliverance from evil.

Sun.’s Devo - The Empty Threats of the Enemy

Read: Isaiah 33:10-36:22; Galatians 5:13-26; Psalm 64:1-10; Proverbs 23:23 Now, it was time for God to stand up and show his power on Israel’s behalf. He would defeat the Assyrians who were coming against Israel. The ungodly of Israel were in terror of their coming but God told them that those who were honest and fair and refused to profit by fraud and bribes and those who refuse to be enticed to sin will be protected and provided for. These faithful children of God will see their God in all his splendor and recognize it was his power that saved them. They will wonder where the Assyrians went that boasted so loudly. Instead of fear, they will be living in a land where they can worship the Lord in peace and quiet. The people will no longer be sick and helpless because the Lord would forgive their sins. God was bringing down all the nations and many would die. All the nations that went against Israel would be judged and brought down. Edom would burn and its judgment would never end. It would never be rebuilt. Wild animals would inhabit the land they once lived. Righteousness will make the deserts and the wilderness be glad and rejoice. Isaiah proclaimed to the fearful to be strong and just wait because the Lord is coming to save them. When he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the hearts of the deaf, the lame will leap and those who cannot speak will sing for soy. The land will be watered and the plants will flourish. God will make a way of holiness for those who he redeems. Sorrow and mourning will leave and be replaced with joy. This is speaking of the salvation that Jesus was bringing in 700 years but he wanted them looking forward to that promise. For now, God was planning to give them deliverance from their enemies as a foretaste of what was to come. After getting this word of encouragement, they are tested as to whether they were going to believe it. The Assyrians came riding in on their horses and attacked the towns of Judah and conquered then. The Assyrians sent their chief staff to Jerusalem to give them the chance to surrender first before they attacked them. The Assyrian officers gave their speech of intimidation to all the men on the wall - the first line of defense. It is full of threats and slander against God. ‘What makes them think that their God can save them when no one else’s god could save them’? That was their question to them. The leaders of Israel tried to make them just talk to them instead of intimidating their men but that was the intention of the Assyrians. They spoke the same threats to the officers who took all this to Hezekiah. In Galatians, Paul calls us to not use our freedom in Christ to sin but to serve one another. We have to lay down our sinful desires and choose to let the Holy Spirit produce his fruits in us. These fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Lord, may we be fertile ground for you to produce your fruit in us.

Sat.’s Devo - God’s Favor

Read: Isaiah 30:12-33:9; Galatians 5:1-12; Psalm 63:1-11; Proverbs 23:22 God continues his word to Ephraim and Jerusalem. These were the people who housed the presence of the Lord and the Temple. They were responsible for teaching the people God’s laws and leading worship to the Lord. Because they had hated the prophets and their words of warnings and refused to repent and trust in the Lord, he was turning them over to calamity and an instant collapse. It would be so suddenly, Isaiah compared it to dropping a pottery bowl on the ground. It would be crushed into little pieces. Instead of calling out for help from their God, they had called for help in Egypt. Instead of receiving help, their enemies would chase them out of their own country. God would patiently wait for them to repent so he could show them compassion and love. All they had to do was to ask God for help and he would come to their rescue. They would eventually wake up and repent and learn to hear God’s voice again. When they got rid of their idols, he would become their God once more. Then God would bless their finances and the works of their hands. God would heal their wounds and forgive their sins. For the time they were in, God was coming like a consuming fire to humble the proud nations and let the whole earth know that he is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. After it was over, the children of the Lord would come home singing songs of their heritage. The Assyrians would be struck down by the Lord and God’s people would rejoice. The Army of God will fight the Assyrians and protect Jerusalem. In that day, the people will be able to see with their spiritual eyes and hear with their spiritual ears and understand with their spiritual hearts. Everyone will know who the fools really are. The rich will be brought low and they will lose everything. The city will be deleted until God pours out his Spirit from heaven and justice rules and rigorousness returns. Then peace will return and blessings and joy. Salvation, wisdom, knowledge and the fear of the Lord will be their treasure. Paul warns the Galatians to stay living in freedom. The Judiazers were teaching them that they needed to do certain things to be a Christian like be circumcised. Paul taught that you can’t win favor from God. You can’t make yourself good enough. Our salvation comes in faith and faith alone. He ended with this statement that makes me laugh, “I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.” Lord, help us to walk in all the freedom of our faith. Thank you for the price you paid for us to have fellowship with you. May your sacrifice keep us humble and grateful.

Fri.’s Devo - Freedom

Read: Isaiah 28:14-30:11; Galatians 3:23-4:31; Psalm 62:1-12; Proverbs 23:19-21 God continues his word to Ephraim and Jerusalem. These were the people who housed the presence of the Lord and the Temple. They were responsible for teaching the people God’s laws and leading worship to the Lord. Because they had hated the prophets and their words of warnings and refused to repent and trust in the Lord, he was turning them over to calamity and an instant collapse. It would be so suddenly, Isaiah compared it to dropping a pottery bowl on the ground. It would be crushed into little pieces. Instead of calling out for help from their God, they had called for help in Egypt. Instead of receiving help, their enemies would chase them out of their own country. God would patiently wait for them to repent so he could show them compassion and love. All they had to do was to ask God for help and he would come to their rescue. They would eventually wake up and repent and learn to hear God’s voice again. When they got rid of their idols, he would become their God once more. Then Got would bless their finances and the works of their hands. God would heal their wounds and forgive their sins. For the time they were in, God was coming like a consuming fire to humble the proud nations and let the whole earth know that he is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. After it was over, the children of the Lord would come home singing songs of their heritage. The Assyrians would be struck down by the Lord and God’s people would rejoice. The Army of God will fight the Assyrians and protect Jerusalem. In that day, the people will be able to see with their spiritual eyes and hear with their spiritual ears and understand with their spiritual hearts. Everyone will know who the fools really are. The rich will be brought low and they will lose everything. The city will be deleted until God pours out his Spirit from heaven and justice rules and rigorousness returns. Then peace will return and blessings and joy. Salvation, wisdom, knowledge and the fear of the Lord will be their treasure. Paul warns the Galatians to stay living in freedom. The Judiasiers were teaching them that they needed to do certain things to be a Christian like be circumcised. Paul taught that you can’t win favor from God. You can’t make yourself good enough. Our salvation comes in faith and faith alone. He ended with this statement that makes me laugh, “I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.” Lord, help us to walk in all the freedom of our faith. Thank you for the price you paid for us to have fellowship with you. May your sacrifice keep us humble and grateful.

Thurs.’s Devo - We Are Free Indeed!

Read: Isaiah 25:1-28:13; Galatians 3:10-22; Psalm 61:1-8; Proverbs 23:17-18 When God brought judgement on the earth at that time it was a picture of how it will be in the Tribulation. Everything was destroyed; mighty cities were turned into heaps. It didn’t matter if they had strong walls and towers. But God made a tower of refuge for the poor in spirit. There will be a remnant that will come through the Tribulation just as there was then. In Jerusalem, God will spread a banquet table for his people. Death will be swallowed up in victory and God will save his people. This is the marriage supper of the Lamb. God’s people will be raptured to be married to Jesus and spend this time in the huppah. We will sing about God’s walls as our salvation and God will open the gates to Jerusalem and allow his people to come back. God told the righteous left on the earth to go and hide for a while until his wrath had passed. God will deal with Leviathan, the Devil and kill him. God will purge Israel of her sin but the God will gather his remnant and the great trumpet will sound. The Great Trumpet will sound on the Day of Atonement and many will return to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. At the end of the Day of Atonement, the gates will be shut. After that day, everyone’s fate is sealed and there is no more hope for the world. God will bring more judgment on the world. He judges Ephraim where Samaria is. Ephraim is the only tribe mentioned in the judgment which might by why Ephraim is left out of the list of tribes in Revelation 7. Samaria was Israel’s capital where much idolatry took place. Isaiah describes the political and spiritual leaders as drunks who could not discern any word from the Lord. God gave it to them line upon line but they couldn’t read it. Paul explained that any one who tried to keep the law was cursed from the start because no one could keep it. Christ rescued us from the curse and set us free from it on the cross. The law was only designed to last until the promised fulfillment of the law had come which was Jesus. Freedom came through Christ. Lord, help us to walk in the freedom of Christ and to walk in the liberty of righteousness.

Wed.’s Devo - Great Promises Are Ours

Read: Isaiah 22:1-24:23; Galatians 2:17-3:9; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 23:15-16 Jerusalem was called the ‘valley of visions’ because the prophets gave their divine words and revelations there. Isaiah predicted Jerusalem’s fall to Nebuchadnezzar. In his vision he saw bodies lying all over the city streets dead by starvation and disease. The leaders had fled only to be caught, and some surrendered without putting up a fight. The city was full of confusion and terror. The Elamites shot arrows from their chariots. Jerusalem was surrounded but instead of crying out to the Lord for help, they tried to survive on their own strength. When the prophets told them to repent and be sorrowful for their sins, they threw parties and danced. They mocked their words of warning. Isaiah had a special word for Shebna, the palace administrator. While he was having a monument built in his own honor, God was planning to crumple him in a ball and toss him into a foreign land. No one would be there to look at his monument. God will send Eliakim to take his place. He will wear Shebna’s royal robes and be given his title and authority. He will be given the keys to the house of David to open and shut doors. He would take care of all the people left until his time is over. Then God will uproot him. All the kingdoms of the earth are shaken. The Babylonians took over the Egyptians and the Israelites, then the Assyrians took over the Babylonians. Tyre, the most wealthy import/export city fell to rise in 70 years. All her wealth would be given to the Lord to provide good food and fine clothing for the Lord’s priests. God and his armies were going to loot the whole earth and scatter the people. Only a remnant will be left of the nations. Those who were left would shout and sing for joy and praise the Lord. God will punish the gods in the heavens and they will be put in prison to be punished. The sun and the moon will not compare to the glory of the Lord who will reign in Jerusalem. This is all a picture also of what will happen in the end of the ages when Jesus returns to judge the earth and reign as king. In Galatians, Paul gives the secret to living an abundant holy life. He gave up trying to meet all the requirements of the law and just started living for God. He realized that his old man was crucified with Christ, yet he still lived. He lived by the power of the Spirit of Christ that lived in him. The Galatians were being duped into thinking that they had to jump through hoops to please God. Paul reminded them that they had received the Holy Spirit by faith which is just how they got salvation. Lord, may we rest in the presence of your glory knowing that your grace is sufficient for us. Your spirit is alive in us and we can do impossible things through you.

Tues.’s Devo - The Power of Grace

Read: Isaiah 19:1-21:17; Galatians 2:1-16; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 23:13-14 Isaiah gave the Lord’s judgment on all the nations of the earth and today we read about Egypt’s fate. Isaiah saw God moving toward Egypt to destroy it. God turned them against each other and caused their plans to become so confused that even their fortune tellers and idols couldn’t help them. God was turning them over to a cruel taskmaster - the Persians. Even nature responded to what God was doing. The Nile failed to rise and dried up instead. This caused all the green plants along the Nile to die and the fish to diminish. There was no flax growing in which they made thread to make clothes and blankets. Their leaders had no answers for their plight. Their wisdom was foolishness. No one had answers. God said that through all of Egypt’s suffering, they would come to repentance and be converted to the Lord. Even Assyria would be converted to the Lord and join with Israel in serving Jehovah. Assyria, Egypt and Israel would come together in common faith as one people. We are seeing this happen in our day as many from all nations are turning to the Lord. Isaiah was told to walk around naked to show them what their fate was going to be. He told a watchman to watch and let him know when he saw a chariot pulled by a pair of horses and riders on donkeys and camels. The watchmen watched day after day until finally they saw a chariot pulled by two horses. Then Isaiah said that this was the sign that Babylon had fallen. God told Isaiah about Edom. Edom was experiencing great judgment. Isaiah said they would have a moment of reprieve but then judgment again. Arabia would supply water and bread to the refugees that came from these nations. Paul, in Galatians is so humble yet so determined to stand for truth. He returned to the churches in Galatia and found that they welcomed his teaching. He was not impressed with the hierarchy in the churches and discerned those who snuck in to bring their Judiazer ways. They wanted to make the people follow the law to find grace which is an oxymoron. Paul would have none of it and called them out. He also called out Peter for his hypocrisy. He ate with sinners until the followers of James came to town then he refused to eat with them because they hadn’t been circumcised. Paul kept bringing them back to the truth about grace. Lord, help us to remember the wonderful grace that you sent your son to die for. May we not weaken the Gospel with our rules and unbelief. Your grace is sufficient for every trial and temptation we face. Thank you for your grace.

Mon.’s Devo - Making the Shift

The prophecy to Moab was probably delivered in the first years of Hezekiah's reign and fulfilled in the fourth when Shalmaneser, on his way to invade Israel, attacked Moab. Moab must have allied with Israel in a league against Assyria, incurring the vengeance of Assyria. Reading about the attack of the Assyrians on Moab, you can hear the cry of despair and see the destruction of death. All joy and laughter is gone. Their false gods could not save them or give them any relief. In three years, Moab will have gone from a teeming metropolis to a few feeble survivors. Damascus in Syria would become a heap of ruins and the animals will roam freely in the deserted cities. Their fate would be the same as in Israel. The land of Syria, Israel and Moab will become desolate with very few survivors. They will be the remnant and they will start looking up to the God of heaven, their true father who alone can save them. Their idols have proved useless. Isaiah made a proclamation to the whole earth that nothing would grow until God was finished plowing the earth and pruning it. When he finishes, His very enemies will bring their gifts to Jerusalem where God’s army will be dwelling. Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia. Galatia was not a city but a region in Asia Minor which included many towns like Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Legalists, called Judaizers had crept into the church and taught that certain of the Old Testament laws still needed to be followed to be a Christian. This totally went against Paul’s teaching of grace and challenge his authority. The Judaizers charged Paul as being a secondhand apostle and a compromiser of the law to make the gospel appealing to the Gentiles. Paul wrote his letter to rebuke the people for listening to their propaganda and to defend the truth. He defended his teaching saying that he didn’t figure it out with his head but received it directly by revelation from Jesus Christ. Lord, I pray for discernment for the Body of Christ that we will be able to make the shift into what you are doing next and not be like the Judaizers who could not make the shift from law to grace.

Sun.’s Devo - God’s Shaking

Read: Isaiah 12:1-14:32; 2 Corinthians 13:1-14; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 23:9-11 Isaiah continued telling them how they would feel when God defeated their enemies in the end. Then, his people would praise him and find comfort in him. They will sing songs of victory and shout for joy. Isaiah received another word about the destruction of Babylon. God would send the Medes against Babylon to destroy it for its wickedness. The Lord of Heavens Armies will use them as their weapons against Babylon. It will be a frightful time but God will be in control punishing evil. God will shake the heavens and the earth and everyone in Babylon will be afraid and run to hide. The Medes will have no mercy on the young men, women and children. Babylon who was once the mot glorious of kingdom will be devastated like Sodom and Gomorrah, never to be inhabited again. But, God will have mercy on the children of Jacob and choose them once again to be his people. He will bring them back to settle in their own land and make them a nation once again. God will take revenge on their enemies. Israel sang a funeral song to Babylon in Chapter 14. He also gave a word of Assyrian’s demise when they come to Israel. God was coming to the earth to judge the whole earth and there was no stopping him. King Ahaz died and God had a word for the Philistines. He didn’t want them to rejoice that their enemy was dead, because He was raising up an even greater enemy for them who will finish the job that Ahaz had started. God would wipe out the Philistines with famine and an army from the north. When messengers came from Philistia to enquire as to the state of Judea, the reply shall be, that “the Lord has built Jerusalem and its walls will give refuge to his oppressed people.” In Corinthians, Paul had to have tough love with the Corinthians but he told them he was not wanting to tear them down but to strengthen them. Lord, thank you that your words are not always what we want to hear but they always lead to healing and restoration.

Sat.’s Devo -The Spirit of the Lord is Here

Read: Isaiah 10:1-11:16; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 23:6-8 Isaiah declared judgment on the unjust judges that denied the rights of the needy, preyed on the widows and took advantage of the orphans. That could describe the people who have governed our land until President Trump became president. For Israel, God was using Assyria to come against them and take them prisoner and ravage their land. Assyria would be the iron horse God chose to use against Israel, but they were not going to be rewarded for it. They would be punished; they were only God’s tool. Assyria was proud and arrogant and they would get what they deserved also. (They remind me of China.) God used Assyria to pick off the nations that were wicked but he was sending a plague among the Assyrian troops and a flaming fire to destroy them. It would happen in a single night. Only a few Israelites would survive God’s purge. This remnant would faithfully trust the Lord and return to him. God comforted them with the fact that in the end He would end their slavery and bring them back. Out of their few left (only a stump), God would grow a new Branch that would bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord would rest on him. He would embody the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord. In that day, He will bring justice and righteousness to the earth. His word will make the earth shake and his death will destroy the wicked. Fear and dread will be gone. Jesus will be a banner of salvation to all the world and the nations will rally to him. This time, he will part the Ephrates River for the people to cross over to it. My guess is that the land they will cross over to is the Garden of Eden, because that is where we are heading. ‘Euphrates’ means ‘fruitfulness’. It breaks into 7 streams which is the number for perfection and a description of the Garden. In Corinthians it is so easy to see what is happening. Paul always came to them as the humble servant, never asking for money or making a big deal about himself though he could have. These ‘super apostles’ came with a price, wearing expensive clothes and boasting of how important they were and the people bought it hook, line and sinker. The ‘super apostles’ didn’t come in righteousness, rebuking sin - they participated and taught them greasy grace. Paul is afraid that when he returns he is going to find them living in their past sins and condoning it. Lord, may we live in the Spirit of the Lord and be ready for what ever your plan is for us.

Fri.’s Devo - Power in Humility

Read: Isaiah 8:1-9:21; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 23:4-5 God told Isaiah to make a big sign and write one word on it - ‘Maher-shalal-hash-baz’. All those words together mean ‘swift to plunder and quick to carry away’. It was code for ‘the Assyrians are coming and they are going to quickly plunder our country and carry us away’. He asked the priests, Uriah and Zechariah to witness him putting up the sign because he wanted them to know who had put it there and that it was a word from God. I can only guess that the opposers took down the sign when they figured it out. Then, Isaiah went home and he and his wife became pregnant. They had a son and named him the name on the sign to be a living reminder. Isaiah told the people that before his son would be able to talk, the Assyrians would come and plunder the nation and take them away captive. Nothing they could do would save them now because God was doing this through the Assyrians because Israel had rejected his care. He told them that is was God’s holy Army that they should fear even more than the Assyrians. Destruction was inevitable, but God had a plan for rebuilding and restoring after he had torn down. Isaiah spoke of the Savior being born who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He would be a fair and just king whose kingdom would last forever. For then, God was going to destroy everyone from the leaders of Israel to the lying prophets because both had misled Israel into sin and darkness. There will be no mercy for the youth, the widows or the orphans because they had all turned from Him. Because they were dead branches, they would burn fast and thoroughly. It was not a pretty picture for Israel. Paul hated to boast about his relationship and the encounters he had had with the Lord, he wanted them to know about them because they qualified him to have their respect. He spoke of the thorn in his flesh that kept him humble. I don’t know if this was an infirmity, a temptation or a person but God kept assuring him that His grace was sufficient to help him. God’s power works greatest in our weakness. When we are weak, God is very strong. Lord, help us to be like Paul who took pleasure in is weaknesses and trials realizing they were working a good work in him. Lord, may your power work through our weaknesses to do your work on the earth.

Thur.’s Devo - Fear the Lord

Read: Isaiah 6:1-7:25; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33; Psalm 54:1-7; Proverbs 23:1-3 To give you the history of Uzziah, he was the king of Judah who started out being a good king that followed the Lord. In his latter years, he became full of pride and went into the Temple to offer incense on the altar which was a duty only the priest were to do. The high priest, with 80 of his priests tried to stop him but not before God struck him with leprosy. He spent his remaining life in a secluded house and never got to return to his kingdom or the Temple. In the year that he died, Isaiah had an encounter with God and saw him on his throne in all his glory. God gave him his commission to be his mouth to the nation of Judah for him. He was to pull their ears and shut their eyes so that they would not understand what God was about to do. He would prophesy to them until Jerusalem was empty and the people gone into exile. What a sad commission! King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah of Israel had conspired together to take Jerusalem but God told Isaiah that He would not let that happen. As a confirmation, Isaiah’s wife would have a son and they were to name him Immanuel which means “God is with us.” This was also a future promise of another son who would be born of the virgin, Mary. Instead of Syria and Israel, God was sending the Assyrian’s against them. They would come in vast hordes and shave off the people and the land. Only a few would be left and the beautiful pasture and gardens would turn to briers and thorns. In Corinthians, Paul is rebuking the people for letting the false teachers enslave them, take everything they have, take advantage of them and that control of everything, then slap them in the face. That sounds exactly what is going on in our nation as the CDC controls every aspect of our existence, and we let them. Paul tries to show them that he has earned their trust and lived his life willing to die for what he believes. His life has been the example of what he preaches. He is trying to open their eyes to see the truth. Lord, may we stop being afraid of the powers of this world and fear the powers of heaven. Lord, you are in control of all of the affairs of man and your kingdom is the Everlasting Kingdom. May the fear of the Lord fill our earth.

Wed.’s Devo - The Lord of Heaven’s Army Will Win

Read: Isaiah 3:1-5:30; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 22:28-29 Isaiah gives us a perfect description of the complacency of Jerusalem and how far she had fallen into sin. He described her as a flirting woman all dressed in her finery. But, God was coming as the Lord of Heaven’s Armies to strip away everything that made her so beautiful on the outside because inside she was wicked. There was no justice or good rulers. No one wanted to rule because everyone just wanted to play. Isaiah declared that playtime was over and judgment was coming. Isaiah saw Jerusalem so ravaged that all the men were gone and the women had to beg and pay the men left to marry them, just to give them a name. For those who found shelter in the Lord, he would be a canopy of cloud for them during the day and a fire at night just like he was for Israel in the wilderness. In Chapter 5, Isaiah compares Israel to his vineyard that he cared for and planted with good seed only to have it produce bitter grapes. They rejected the law of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies so God was going to crush them. God would send them into exile far away and the great and honored among them would starve. The common people would die of thirst. God’s justice would exalt him and His holiness would be displayed by his righteousness. The ones who refused to repent were described as those who drug their wickedness behind them like a cart. Some would mock God calling on Him to do something. They are the ones who still call good evil and dark light. Sorrow waits for them. God will signal other nations to come and ounce on them and no one will be there to rescue them. The atmosphere will be dark with distress and destruction. In Corinthians, Paul is dealing with the crisis in the church. Corinth was a very wicked city full of prostitution and sin. He had dealt with the immorality that had slipped into the church in First Corinthians but now there was still a group of rebels led by a powerful leader in the church who refused to repent. Paul was dealing with them in the last chapters of Corinthians. He expresses his love for them and the fact that he never took any money from them. Apparently this rebel leader was just the opposite. Paul tries to unmask this man’s heart saying that even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. In the end, the deceivers will get their punishment. Lord, may we not be complacent to what is happening in our world. May we fight with Heaven’s Armies to defeat our invisible enemy. May we repent as a nation for our sin and turn our hearts back to you.

Tues.’s Devo - Bringing God’s Kingdom to Earth

Read: Isaiah 1:1-2:22; 2 Corinthians 10:1-18; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 22:26-27 Isaiah prophesied through four kings. Israel and Judah had experienced prosperity and wealth but lived in sin and idolatry. Isaiah was sent to call them back to righteousness and repentance. He likened them to the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Their worship had become a ceremony of rituals and pomp and God was not impressed. He hated it because their hearts were so far from his. He called them to repent and to seek justice; to defend the orphan and to fight for the widows. Though their sins were so bad, God could make them white as snow. God promised to use his Army to take revenge on his enemies and remove the impurities through his fire. He promised to give them just judges and wise counselors. In the last days, which refers to when Jesus came to earth and in our last days, God’s house would be exalted above all else. God’s Word will go out from Jerusalem and it will bring peace to the earth. People who worshipped idols and human pride will be humbled. God will punish everything that is exalted above Him. People who are guilty will hide to escape the terror of the Lord and the glory of his majesty as he rises to shake the earth. Paul tells us how we are to war in this world. Since we are fighting a spiritual war, we have to use spiritual weapons. We are not fighting tangible things but things like carnal reasoning, false arguments, pride and lies that keep people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. May we remember, Lord, that we are not fighting people, but principalities in the heavenlies and not on earth. May we use the weapons of our warfare to bring down the forces of evil over our nation and raise up righteous strongholds in their place.

Mon.’s Devo - The Blessings of Giving Ourselves Away

Read: Song of Solomon 5:1-8:14; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 22:24-25 Jesus calls us his garden. In us he gathers myrrh and honey. He drinks wine with us which is sweet fellowship. He compares this wine to love. One day the lover comes and the young woman is not ready for him so he leaves. She then repents and goes to open the door only to find him gone and she is devastated. She searches for him everywhere. She describes him to those she sees using beautiful words of love. When she remembers what he is like, she knows exactly where he is. He is in his garden gathering lilies. This makes me think of how the Jews were the Lord’s people but they were not ready when he came. When Jesus died, many of them did wake up to realize he was indeed the long awaited Messiah, but as a nation they did not. The Gentiles were then awakened to salvation and they were the new garden that became his delight. Next in the story, the Jewish woman arises like the dawn and returns to the Lord and catches the eye of her savior or vice versa. She loves him in secret which is where the Jews are right now. Many of them have to keep their salvation under wraps because they would be ousted from their synagogues. She talks of the next generation as her little sister who is young and immature. She is hoping that she is faithful and pure and will follow in the right path. She tells her own story of awakening to the Saviour’s love. She freely gives her life to him and lives to hear his voice. She climbs with him to the mountain of spices. In Corinthians Paul was trying to get these Greek Christians to learn the doctrine of sowing and reaping. He explained that their offerings were like seeds that would be planted into God’s work and they and the ministry would reap a great harvest. He was not wanting their money as much as he was wanting to teach them how to get God’s material blessings flowing in their lives. Lord, help us to plant seeds of love, forgiveness, kindness and our money so that the Kingdom of God will be advanced and we can grow and be blessed and be a blessing.

Sun.’s Devo - We are the Aroma of God to the World -

Read: Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16; 2 Corinthians 8:16:24; Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 22:22-23 Song of Solomon which is also called Song of Songs in some Bibles, is a beautiful love sonnet written about God’s covenant love for his people. Solomon’s glorious kingdom was like the restoration of the Garden of Eden. This book personifies the wife in an ideal marriage and the way it will be when God has restored the earth back to its original state. The Shunamite woman relives the Jewish history and rewrites it. It starts at the banquet table but then goes back in history and tells how she was found by her beloved. She was dark and sinful but wonders why she should continue to live veiled. She wants to see and be seen. The king decks her with ornaments of gold and allows her to partake in the fragrance of his presence. He proclaims that her eyes are only for him. She praises him as the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys, and her shade whose fruit was sweet. He has always been for her and with her. Christ has always been the beloved watching us through the veil causing us to rise up and come away with him in the spirit to a better place of peace and beauty and love. If we could remember to stop and gaze at the face of Christ and sit in his presence we could escape from the reality of this world and enter the more real kingdom of heaven. In Chapter 3, the Shunamite remembers a time in her history when she felt alone in the night but when she went to find her lover, he was found. The Women of Jerusalem all see the bridegroom arrive to marry his bride. He speaks of his bride with such tender words of love and adoration. This is the love that Jesus has for his bride! It ends with the wind blowing on the garden to spread its aroma. I think that is what adversity does. Trials are like winds that blow on God’s garden - his people and causing our aroma to spread throughout the world. Paul and Titus were like the wind of God’s good news sent to bless the churches and bring refreshing to it. Their lives were lives of adversity and poured out for the church to bless it with encouragement; rebuke, at times; financial help; and whatever they needed. Lord, may our lives be like perfume poured out to bring your fragrance to the earth.

Sat.’s Devo - Give of What You Have Been Given

Read: Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 22:20-21 Today, Job woke up on the right side of the bed and gives us some good advise. One of my favorite lines from today is “If a snake bites before you charm it, whats the use of being a snake charmer?” That is a word to the lazy. If you have a talent - use it; if you see something needs to be done and you can do it - do it. We so many times complain about something that we could have totally done something about if we had been on our toes and not sitting around waiting for someone else to do it. Job came full circle back to the Lord and remembered God in his old age. I love how he personifies our bodies. Our legs are the guards of your house. Our shoulders are our strong men. Our teeth are our servants and our eyes are the women looking though the windows. Our ears are the doors of life’s opportunities. His conclusion at the end of his life was to fear God and obey his commands. God will judge our doings even the secret things whether good or bad. In Corinthians, Paul talked about giving. The churches who had the most joy in Paul’s ministry were the ones with the least, but were the overflowing with generosity. These were the churches in Macedonia. The Church in Corinth was rich in faith, gifted speakers, knowledge and enthusiasm and love. Paul encouraged them to be generous also in their giving. Lord, may we be generous in all you have given us.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Perspective

Read: Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:18; 2 Corinthians 7:8-16; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 22:17-19 All I can say about today’s reading is that Solomon was having a really bad day. He begins well saying that a good reputation is invaluable but then spirals down into a hole speaking of funerals and death. He says that a fool thinks only of having a good time but always comes back to eat, drink and be merry which is a contradiction. In Ecclesiastes we learn how a person who is apart from God looks at the world and tries to process it in his own mind. Solomon says some extremely wise things but follows it with some extremely foolish things. We get to see the struggle that we all go through as we process what is good and why we do the things we do. Solomon cries out at injustice - good people die young and wicked people enjoy long lives. His conclusion is not to be too good or too wicked. He is trying to be ‘safe’. There was nothing about Jesus’ life, or any of the great men of God’s lives that were ‘safe’. Solomon tries to get wisdom by determining to find it and control his thoughts and actions. He finds out that that is too hard to do. Wisdom only comes from God. Solomon concludes that in all his searching he has not found what he is looking for. He realizes the limits of man over their future. He doesn’t understand the goodness of God and that God does reward righteousness whether it is here on earth or in heaven. People’s memory is remembered…we have a whole Bible and history books and library books about people’s lives. Everything we do for God is recorded in heaven. Solomon is an observer and some of what he observes is very right but he doesn’t look at life from God’s perspective, he looks at life from man’s perspective. In Proverbs, Solomon looks at life from God’s perspective. We see little glimpses of what he learned in Proverbs as Solomon makes his way back. In Corinthians, Paul is thrilled to hear that the Corinthians read his last letter and took it to heart. He had addressed things that they needed to correct and they repented. He is also happy that they welcomed Titus with open arms and showed him the love of God. Lord, you say that you rebuke those you love and chasten your children in order that they will grow. Thank you for your rebukes and chastenings. Help us to be quick to repent and turn back to you, forsaking our sins and wrong attitudes. Your Word is the entrance of light. Help us to see life from Your perspective.

Thur.’s Devo - Perspectives of Life

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 22:16 Solomon at the end of his life was very reflective and depressed. He saw all the suffering in the world and it overwhelmed him that there was no easy answer. He could only see from man’s perspective so it looked hopeless and unproductive to live. He saw loneliness as a real sadness. Everyone needs a friend and life is easier if you have a partner. Three is even better. He gives us a clue about dreams. If your life is too busy and you have no time to reflect and rest your brain, then your dreams will reflect that. He and James would agree that our mouth can get us in a world of trouble. He warns us from making vows to God and not fulfilling them. Next he addressed the sin of loving money. Those who love money, never have enough. Their friends are there only to help them spend it and it will slip through their fingers. If you hoard it - it can harm you, if you invest it - you might lose it all. Sadly, Solomon could find no peace or fulfillment to life. He did find one thing he considered good: to enjoy the fruit of one’s labor and the lot that God had chosen for them. Solomon saw that the tragedy was when someone have been blessed with great wealth and never have the time to enjoy it and it goes to another when they die. He did come to some good conclusions: enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Dreams unfulfilled are pointless. Our destiny has been decided by God and it is the best plan. Paul gives us his own wisdom about life. He warns us from making a partnership with an unbeliever. We are not like those of the world because God lives in us and walks with us. He is our God and he called us out of darkness into his light. Paul was facing persecution and opposition but God sent him Titus to encourage him and tell him how excited the church in Corinth was about him coming to visit and how they loved him. This meant everything to Paul and gave him new energy to keep going. Lord, thank you for the people you give us to encourage us in our walk and destiny. Thank you that you walk in us and with us and we are never alone.

Wed.’s Devo - The Meaning to Life

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 22:15 Ecclesiastes is a stark contrast to Proverbs which were both believed to be written by Solomon. Proverbs was written when Solomon was closely following the Lord and Ecclesiastes was written later in his life when he had married many many wives and worshipped many idols. It is the struggle of his soul trying to piece together all he has seen and find meaning to his life. He sums everything up in one word - ‘meaningless’. Solomon is very pessimistic and cynical about life. He realizes that like the water in the ocean, everything ebbs and flows right back to the same place. History repeats itself. Solomon is bored with life because nothing is new and he has seen it all. Solomon sets out to find some kind of meaning in life so he tries pleasure, building, creating beauty, and working hard. He finds it meaningless. Then he compares wisdom with foolishness and madness and finds that the end is the same. He decides he hates life because it is so meaningless and you can take none of it with you to the next life. Next he tried eating and drinking. When it didn’t satisfy he realized that, like he had written in Proverbs, everything is tied to God. God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. All of his searching showed him that nothing on this earth can satisfy which is why the hope for eternity has been written in our hearts. He concluded that man should enjoy the life God has given them and the resources they have been given because it all comes from God. It all boils down to fearing the Lord which was the motto of Proverbs. Things happen over and over so we will come to the same conclusion - this is not our home. This will pass and eternity is waiting that will go on forever. Man’s justice will never be complete on earth, but God’s justice will be complete in heaven. Paul warns his people not to do what Solomon did. Solomon had a wonderful gift of understanding the fear of the Lord, but he forgot it. Ecclesiastes is Solomon’s struggle to get back his innocence. Paul tells them that God’s marvelous gift of salvation has got to be kept alive in our hearts. We are his walking testimony on the earth to others of God’s love so even through hardships and calamity, we must endure and be proven. The Holy Spirit lives through us to show God’s purity, kindness, patience and understanding so that others will see God through our lives. We are not responsible for people’s reactions or is our success measured by our popularity, it is measured by our honest walk with God. Lord, help us to truly love one another and walk in truth and holiness.

Tues.’s Devo - The Majestic Glory of God

Read: Job 40:1-42:17; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 22:14 God asks Job if now that he has seen him, if he still wants to argue with him. Job is humbled to the core. He realizes that he has spoken too much already and regrets all he said. God asks Job if he will discredit his justice and condemn God just to prove he is right. Then he challenges Job to act like him and do the things he does. God points to behemoth (the hippopotamus) and Leviathan (the sea monster or crocodile). He describes their awesome strength and power. Can Job make something like this? Job replies to God that he just thought he knew something but he realizes that he knows nothing at all. He makes the statement that he knew about God, but now he has experienced him. God left Job and went to talk to his friends. He told them that they had not spoken accurately about him as Job had. They were to take a perfect (7) sacrifice to Job and offer it up and let Job pray for them. He would accept Job’s prayer for them. They obeyed and it broke the curse off of Job. God blessed him with double of all he had and even gave him 7 more sons and 3 more daughters. It gives us the daughters names which mean “affectionate”, “cassia” which is a spice used in the anointing incense, and “the horn of cosmetic” which alluded to their beauty. They were known for their beauty and Job put them in his will. Job had an encounter with God and it changed everything for him. Paul said the same thing in his letter to the Church in Corinth. He said that at one time they thought of Christ merely from a human point of view, but now they see through God’s eyes. Now they know Jesus in a totally new spiritual way. This compels them to share him to the world. Now they can passionately plead others to come to Christ. Lord, may we humbly declare your wisdom far above ours. Thank you that you look down on man with love and mercy and salvation. We are truly grateful to you.