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.