Tues.’s Devo -A Call to Repentance

Read: Isaiah 54:1-57:14; Ephesians 6:1-24; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 24:8 If I am reading the first verse right, there will be many orphaned children. The second verse sounds like a call to take these children in. God sees them as seed to be planted in the earth and grow. This seed would take over or take in the Gentiles and bring life to the uninhabited places. Their shame would be lifted and they would not be forsaken anymore. God was speaking of a complete reversal. The children would be taught of the Lord and have great peace, instead of abused and sacrificed. God was the one who had destroyed them in the past but he was also the one who would now stand against any weapon that was formed against them. Isaiah 55 was a call to come back to the Lord. He had everything they needed. He asked them why did they spent their money on things that didn’t prosper their soul. The things of God are higher than the things of this earth. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. His word is power and truth and what he has said will happen. If we choose Him, you will have joy and peace. All nature will respond to our praises. All of our curses will turn to blessings. In Isaiah 56, God encourages them to keep doing the things that are right. Though they had not received the blessing promised of salvation, it was coming. Even the eunuch and the outcast that believed till the end would be blessed with an everlasting name. This name would be even better than sons and daughters. This name would be the greatest inheritance a person could have. God rebuked the watchmen (prophets) and the shepherds (pastors) that should have watched over the people. They had become spiritually blind and ignorant of the things of God and his Word. They were greedy of people’s money and selfish. They were drunkards. The righteous were dying and no one was caring. The merciful were taken away from the evil to come. They would lie in the grave in peace and rest. The sons of the sorceress, adulterer and whore loved their idols and slayed the children for their sacrifices. They chose the smooth stones of their idols and set them behind their doors, the place where God had told them to write his laws. God had thought that his long silence and their long-suffering would bring them to repentance but instead it caused them to forget Him. Those who didn’t forget him would inherit the land and God’s holy mountain. In Ephesians, Paul continued his sermon on submission. Children should obey and honor their parents, fathers should lovingly bring up their children to love God. Masters or business leaders should treat their employees with respect. All should be strong in the Lord and the power of his might, not in their worldly position. Our war is not with flesh and blood but with powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies. We have been given spiritual armor to protect us. Truth shields our inmost parts, righteousness guards our heart, faith is the shield agains the fiery darts of temptation and adversity. Salvation guards our minds and the Word of God is our weapon. Prayer is our communication with God. Paul’s gift was to boldly proclaim the mysteries of the gospel. Lord, may we wear your armor with your power and might. May we not tolerate evil or sin.