Sun.’s Devo - People Redeemed by the Lord

Read: Isaiah 62:6-65:25; Philippians 2:19-1:4; Psalm 73:1-28; Proverbs 24:13-14 God tells Jerusalem that he has posted watchmen - prophets to watch over them until he brings his blessing back to Jerusalem. They will never be turned over to their enemies again. They will never again have their income taken from them by enemies. They were told to prepare a road for their people to return on, to go take out the rocks that are in the road and make it passable. *** This is the same message John the Baptist gave about their hearts. They were to make the way smooth for the Lord to walk into their hearts. The boulders in the way were their sins. Jesus was coming with rewards and his followers would be called “The People Redeemed by the Lord.” *** The Lord came the first time to save us individually but he is coming the second time to save us nationally. The first time his robe was stained with his own blood as he paid for our sins, but this second time he is coming with his robe stained with the blood of his enemies. *** Isaiah takes a moment to praise the Lord for what he has done for them in the past and what he is going to do for them in the future. He begs God to do what he did in the past when he came down on Mt. Sinai and made himself known to his people. But these people rebelled against him over and over. Isaiah described Jerusalem as a city torn down and ravaged. Isaiah asks God if he is going to help them or not. *** God responds. He has always been ready to help them but they didn’t ask for his help. They wanted to do it themselves without him. They thought they could defeat their enemies with the help of their idols. God must respond to their deeds. He will destroy them all but preserve the remnant that stayed true to Him. Everything will flip and the God’s people will be blessed and their enemies will be cursed. *** God will create new heavens and a new earth. No one will even think about the old ones. Jerusalem will be a place of happiness and her people will be a source of joy. God’s blessing will be on his people and they will be blessed beyond their wildest imaginations. War will be gone and there will be peace on earth. *** Paul tells the church at Philippi that he is sending Timothy and Epaphroditus to them to encourage them in their faith. Timothy genuinely cares about them because he cares about what matters to Jesus. Epaphroditus had almost died but didn’t and longs to come see them. *** Paul warned them to watch out for the ones who told them they must be circumcised to be saved. Circumcision is of the heart not the physical. No deed we could do would save us. We are saved by God’s grace and Jesus’ blood. *** Lord, your promises are so good for us who are called by your name. Help us to patiently wait on You to act.