Mon.’s Devo - The Faithfulness of God

Read: Isaiah 51:1-53:12; Ephesians 5:1-33; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 24:7 God reminded the people of Israel of their roots in Abraham. Abraham was just one man when God called him and made a great nation of his descendants. God will never forsake his people. Before disaster had happened, God spoke of comfort so they would have hope through their slavery and hard times. Prosperity and joy awaited them. Mercy and justice was coming along with salvation. He told them that the righteous never need to be afraid because God knows who they are and promises to preserve them in times of trouble. Those who are afraid of the evil oppressors have forgotten their Creator. Their oppressors are just mere humans that are here for a moment and die. He assured them that soon they would be released and set free. Imprisonment, starvation, and death would not be their fate. God judged Jerusalem with his fury because of their rebellion. They were made to drink from the cup of God’s fury and were faced with desolation and destruction, famine and war. God was going to turn that wrath on their oppressors who boasted they would trample them into the dust. Twice, God told them to wake up from their spiritual slumber. Jerusalem had no leaders. God told them again to wake up and put on holy garments. God wanted them to loose the bands of wickedness from their necks. They had been taken captive by Egypt where they had to listen to God’s name being blasphemed every day. God declared their celebration day of deliverance. He would send his servant and son, Jesus. He would be both exalted and extolled, and his appearance marred worse than any man. He would grow up among them and no one would have guessed who he really was. He would be despised, rejected, and a man of grief. He would be bruised for our transgressions and iniquities even though he was sinless. And his blood would bring our healing. We are all like sheep and have gone our own ways so God laid on his son our sin. He became the final sacrifice. It pleased the Lord to give his only son for us because of his great love for us. Jesus would see the reward of his suffering and be satisfied because it would bring many to salvation. He lives to make intercession for us. Paul admonished the Ephesians to walk in the light as children of the light just as Jesus did. He told them to not live like heathens or to be deceived by their vain words. We are to walk in the light, not as fools but as the wise. We are to redeem the time we spent away from Christ by making the most of what we have left. We are to submit to one another and honor one another, especially wives to their husbands as this represents Christ’s relationship with his Bride. Lord, may we live our lives to honor you and show our gratitude for our salvation that came through suffering and sacrifice. Thank you for the free gift of salvation.