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.