Tue’s Devo - Good News!

Read: Isaiah 60:1-62:5; Philippians 1:27-2:18; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 24:11-12 In Isaiah 60, Isaiah announces the Messiah. He is the light that has come. He came when darkness covered the earth. He came to bring salvation to all the nations. He talked about the caravans that would bring gold and frankincense to worship him. This happened at Jesus’ birth. Isaiah sees ships bringing people home to Israel. They are coming to honor the Lord. He sees foreigners coming to rebuild their towns and the honor of dignitaries and the wealth of other nations coming to them. Nations who refused to worship him will be destroyed. This is happening today! *** God will be honored and his people will receive retribution. The season of oppression, sadness, and mourning will be over. We will enter a time of great blessing and prosperity. There will be abundance and joy. God’s great message about salvation will reach the ends of the earth. The broken hearted will be comforted, the captives will be released, we have entered into a time of God’s favor and joy. *** We who are alive to see this will see our cities rebuilt, places that have been abandoned will come to life again. (I think of businesses that went belly-up during Covid, returning.) God is going to reward us for all our suffering and his righteousness is going to spring up everywhere. Where we live will become the city of God’s delight. Our children will commit themselves to the Lord, and God will rejoice over them. We have a great future ahead! *** In Philippians, we learn how to live on the earth. We live as citizens of heaven who represent Christ on the earth. We are not to be intimidated by our enemies who are going to be destroyed, but we are to stand firm and share the Good News of the Kingdom. We are to honor others, loving them and working with them. God gives us the desire and the power to please him. We do this by holding firm to him as the word of life. He is the reason we live. *** Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit that enables us to live for you. Thank you for the wonderful promises of our future. All we have is yours.

Mon.’s Devo - What Pleases God

Read: Isaiah 57:15-59:21; Philippians 1:1-26; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 24:9-10 God makes is very clear that he dwells with the lowly and humble and rejects the proud and lofty. God sent out a message to Israel to repent. Their acts of worship were just acts and he requires true worship from the heart. Worship and devotion to God should change their life-style. *** They quarreled and debated over spiritual matters and dogma while oppressing the poor. Instead, God wanted them to minister to the oppressed and meet their needs. When they do this, their light will shine and they will be restored. What they give will be returned to them. Some of them would repair cities that had been destroyed. *** God always made a big deal about the Sabbath because the Sabbath is a picture of rest we have been promised in our future. In that day, we won’t be doing our own pleasure, but the Lord’s. God, himself will be our delight. *** That was not the case in Isaiah’s day. Their sins had come between them and God. They lied and loved corruption and murder. All of their efforts to be productive will come to nothing. They were always destroying and never finding peace or righteousness. They didn’t even know how to live righteously because their hearts were filled with corruption and sin. They walked in darkness and turned their backs on the Lord and everything holy. *** God saw that there was no justice or advocate. He saw the oppression of the poor, so he promised to step in to save them. In his divine passion he will attack his enemies with fury. His victory will extend to the ends of the earth. His spirit would always be on his people. *** The church in Phillipi was started by Paul in his second missionary journey. Paul was closer to this church than any of his churches. He wrote this letter while he was imprisoned in Rome to thank them for their financial support. They had sent their gift by Epaphroditus and Paul was sending him back to them. Paul was grateful that the church in Philippi had been his partners in spreading the good news of the gospel. He also commended their tender compassion of Christ. Philippi was known as the city of brotherly love and it was the only church in Revelation that Jesus didn’t have a rebuke for. *** Paul prayed that they would grow in their love, knowledge and understanding. He wanted them to keep in mind what really matters that they could live pure and blameless lives and bring glory to Christ. *** Paul shares the opportunities he had had to share his faith with others because of his imprisonment. The palace guards knew he was there because of his faith in Christ. His chains had been used to encourage the church to have confidence in what they believe. Paul promises them he will forever be bold for Christ and give his life for the truth of the gospel. *** Lord, may we always be filled with the fruit of salvation and take pride in Christ. May we never be ashamed of the gospel, but willingly lay down our lives for Christ.

Sun.’s Devo - Our Great Future

Read: Isaiah 54:1-57:14; Ephesians 6:1-24; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 24:8 This is a picture of the end time condition of the world. The Jews are the childless because they are not birthing life, but the Gentile Church is greatly expanding in converts. God tells his people that they will also be growing, so they need to prepare for this growth. Their shame will be taken away and God will become their husband once again. *** Before we knew Christ, we were like the Jews who couldn’t see, but now we have been purchased by God to know him. We can also look at the big picture and see our nation who turned away from God, is now returning to Him. God’s promise is the same: he will rebuild us and make us beautiful like gems. He will give us a righteous and fair government where we will live in peace. *** God made weapons to bring destruction that he used against his people, but the day is coming when those weapons will no longer be affective in destroying us. God will vindicate his people. *** All who are hungry and thirsty for God will be freely satisfied. Many will seek the Lord and he will have mercy on them. God has thought all this out and his ways are higher than ours. When we see the earth prospering we will know these are signs of God’s covenant being displayed on the earth. This is his love being poured out on his people. All people will be accepted and can come and follow the Lord. Many nations will come to the Lord. *** Chapter 57 describes those who still worship idols and do Satanic rituals to gain power. Their deeds will be exposed and their gods will not be able to help them when they call out to them. But, those who trust in the Lord will inherit the land and possess God’s holy mountain. *** In Ephesians we see the blessing of honoring our parents, our bosses and any one in authority because that is how we learn to honor God. Everything we do should honor him. *** We must put on God’s armor because we are fighting spiritual beings that cannot be fought in the flesh. In God’s armor we can resist the enemy. Our weapons are truth, righteousness, faith, and the Word of God. We stay awake by praying in the Spirit and persisting with our words of declaration. *** Lord, may we discern the day we are living in and rise up to fight for justice and righteousness. May your Kingdom come to earth like it is in heaven.

Sat.’ Devo - Thank You, Jesus

Read: Isaiah 51:1-53:12; Ephesians 5:1-33; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 24:7 Isaiah called the people to remember where they came from and how they came about to become a nation. The nation of Israel would blossom from the ruins to become a great nation and will bring light to the whole world. *** The people of the earth will die like flies but God’s people will be released from their captivity because God will rescue them. They will no longer experience the Lord’s fury; his fury will be turned on their enemies. The whole earth will see the victory of the Lord. *** Isaiah 53 is the clearest prophecy about Christ’s first coming. He was hated, rejected, and not attractive to the world. His own people turned against him and led him to his death. Yet, he suffered for our sakes. Every stipe he received was for our benefit. He did it all for us. *** After reading Isaiah’s depiction of Jesus it is hard to see how people could choose to live in the sins that Paul lists in his letter to the Ephesians. The bottom line is to live with Jesus in mind, not ourselves. A good question to ask ourselves often is, “What can we do to magnify him on the earth?” *** Lord, thank you that everything you did for us was not in vain. May we prove that through our lives. Help us to love and honor our spouses and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Give us love for the sinner and may we be witnesses of what you have done for us. May we live to see your glory fill the earth.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Deliverance

Read: Isaiah 48:12-50:11; Ephesians 4:17-32; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 24:5-6 God reminds them over and over who he is - creator of everything. And, he reminds them over and over and over who their idols are - nothing. He will use Cyrus to put an end to the Babylon kingdom and he will succeed. This is Trump’s mandate to bring down the Deep State and he will succeed! *** If they had just obeyed the Lord and not abandoned him, they would not have had to go into captivity. But now, he would bring them out. Then they would bring him glory. *** The Messiah would come and be rejected by God’s people, but the Gentiles will come to his light and receive salvation. He will get the attention of kings and princes. Through Jesus, God will establish the land of Israel and give it back to his people. They will become his sheep once again. God will care for them and heal them. People will come from all around to return to the Lord. *** We can never say the God has forgotten Israel. God will feed them, protect them and guide them along his path. Their children will return to them and those who were trying to destroy them will go away. *** God’s people will multiply and many will receive their children back from captivity. God’s people will be served by kings and queens. Everything will be reversed and the righteous will be the head and not the tail. God’s enemies will be destroyed and his people will rule. They will walk in God’s light. Those who walk in their own light will fall down tormented. *** In Ephesians, Paul describes the unbeliever who have hardened their hearts against God and the message of Christ. They eagerly and shamelessly practice sin. This is the opposite of the life of a believer. Our spirits have been renewed and we have the nature of God and the mind of Christ. We have given up lying, stealing, crude language, and bitterness and are kind, tenderhearted and forgiving. We forgive just like God forgave us through Christ. *** Lord, may we remember who we are when we are tempted to act like who we were. Thank you that your Spirit lives within us and we have power over sin. May we walk humbly in love.

Thurs.’s Devo - God’s Plan -

Read: Isaiah 45:11-48:11; Ephesians 4:1-16; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 24:3-4 God is still talking to the people who argue with God over the one he chose to work through and his plan. God makes it very clear that this is his earth and he created the people to live on it. He has chosen Cyrus to carry out his plan and restore his city and set his people free from their slavery. He will do this without wanting a reward. *** Their enemies will bring them their wealth and serve them and acknowledge God as the only God. *** The craftsmen who made idols will be humiliated when their idols are exposed as nothing. Israel will be saved never to be disgraced again. *** Despite what the WEF says, God made the earth to be lived in and not a place of empty chaos. Their idols will be rolled out on carts because they were proven to be empty liars. God will forever be the Shepherd of his people. He is the only one who knows the future and can tell his people what will happen. *** The reign of Babylon is over. Babylon means “confusion.” Babylon will never rise again. It was only allowed to rule because God’s people sinned. All of its witchcraft and magic will not be able to save it from God’s hand of judgment. They will not be able to stop what is coming with bribes or magical charms. Even their friends will abandon them. *** God has a stern word to those of his children who should have know better but still chose to worship idols. Because of his love for them, God had to refine them through suffering. *** In Ephesians, God admonishes us to have patience with one another because we need to stay united in our faith. Jesus went to hell when he died to rescue those who died before he came to earth. He took them with him to heaven and now gives gifts to the Church. These gifts are the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. They help bring us into unity and maturity that we might grow to the standard of Jesus Christ. *** Lord, may we have discernment to know what is truth and what is lies. May our everyday lives bring glory to you and testify of your love and mercy. Thank you for the gifts you have given us to lead and guide us to you.

Wed.’s Devo - God is in Control

Read: Isaiah 43:14-45:10; Ephesians 3:1-21; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 24:1-2 This is a long reading today but as you are reading it notice how God takes responsibility for all he did. He forced the Babylonians to flee from the army he sent. He called the army of Egypt to chase them to the Red Sea so He could drown them. He made a river through the desert for them. *** Then God let them know what they did. They burdened him with their sins and wearied him with their faults. They refused to give him the correct offerings but instead made idols and worshipped them. So God had to proclaim their sentence. Their priests would be disgraced, Jacob would be destroyed and Israel would be shamed. *** Still, God forgives their sins, helps them and promises to pour out his Spirit on their descendants. They would be blessed and honor the Lord. Those who worship idols would be shamed and disgraced. *** God calls them to return to him. He calls his creation to respond to what he is doing on the earth. Creation will sing and shout for joy when God redeems his people and is glorified through them. *** The Lord makes sure we know that he is in control. He is the one who created the earth and the heavens. He will expose the false prophets, the fortune tellers and the wise men of the day. They are all fools compared to his wisdom. *** God named the person who he would make things right through. His name is Cyrus. This was prophesied 200 years before Cyrus came to power in Persia and declared he wanted to rebuild a Temple to the Lord in Jerusalem. God carries out the words of his prophets. Cyrus would take down the mighty kings around him and he would control their treasures. *** Righteousness and salvation would be poured out on the earth. God would do all this for his chosen people. But, woe to those who opposed him and those who didn’t recognize how he was using Cyrus for his purposes. It is God’s business why he chose Cyrus. *** Today, we have a modern day Cyrus named Donald John Trump. He is doing this exact thing on the earth. He had brought peace to seven wars and is establishing peace and God’s honor back to the whole earth. God is doing this for his name sake and because of his great love for us. *** God was doing something new in the days of the apostles. Jesus had opened the way for all men, Jews and Gentiles to come into his family. God’s plan was to use the Church to display God’s wisdom to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. *** Lord, I pray that you will empower us through your Spirit with strength so that we can understand, experience, and be filled with God’s love and power.

Tues.’s Devo - God is Greater!

Read: Isaiah 41:17-43:13; Ephesians 2:1-22; Psalm 67:1-7; Proverb 23:29-35 When there is drought and the ground is unfruitful, God will water it and it will grow. The Lord challenges the ones who worship idols to present their case for them. Ask them what happened in the past and what is going to happen in the future. Ask them if they can respond in any way because they can’t. *** But, God was sending a ruler (Cyrus, Aka - Trump) who He would give power over all the nations. He will be good news to Israel. He will bring justice to the nations and will fight until the whole earth is full of justice. He will free those who are in prisons in dark dungeons. *** Their idols couldn’t predict the future but God can. He told them to rejoice because a new day was coming. The Lord was coming to be their hero and he would win. He would bring down the lofty who ruled and dry up their plans, but he would bring deliverance for his people. *** God rebuked his people for knowing what was right and still not following it. God sees their state and how they have been robbed, plundered, imprisoned and trapped. He asked them how this happened then answered his own question. It was their sin that caused them to get in this condition. They had refused to walk in the path the Lord had for them. So, God destroyed them in battle. *** But now… God was ransoming them back to him. He would be with them in their difficulties and help them through their trials. He would gather them where they had been scattered and bring them home. *** God would call out the ones who worshiped idols and ask them if they ever told the truth. His true witnesses were called to know the truth and they would testify of who God is. Nothing will be able to stop the Lord’s plans. *** In Ephesians, Paul explains that the world obeys the devil who commands powers in the unseen world. He works in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. We were one of his subjects until Jesus rescued us because of his great mercy. We are now God’s witnesses to the world. *** It is God’s great mercy and grace that saved us, not something we earned. Paul reminds the Gentiles to remember where they came from. They had not grown us having the law read to them or hearing the stories of the patriarchs. They were labeled as “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews. But now they are both are citizens of heaven. He has brought peace to both the Jew and the Gentile as he brought us all into his family. Praise the Lord! *** Lord, thank you for reconciling us to you. We are so grateful to be called your children. May our lives witness to who you are and your greatness.

Mon.’s Devo - He is Lord of All

Read: Isaiah 39:1-41:16; Ephesians 1:1-23: Psalm 66:1-20; Proverbs 23:25-28 Merodach, the son of the king of Babylon heard that Hezekiah was very sick and sent ambassadors with a gift for him. Hezekiah was so honored that he showed off to them everything he owned. When they left, Isaiah came to Hezekiah and asked him about his visitors and what he showed them. When Hezekiah told him they had seen all his royal treasures, Isaiah gave him a word from God. The time was coming when everything he had showed them along with his sons would be taken to Babylon. Some of his sons would be made eunuchs in the palace of Babylon. *** All Hezekiah could think was he was glad he would not be alive to see it. *** Isaiah gave a word to the people. The day would comes when the Lord would speak comfort for his people. He would send a voice in the wilderness telling the people to get their hearts right so that the Lord could come to them. We know that this was the voice of John the Baptist. He told them to humble themselves and repent and get their lives straight. He reminded them that their lives were temporary and they needed to live for eternity. The Lord was coming and they needed to get ready. *** When He comes he will come in power and be a shepherd to the people. He will lead in righteousness and justice. The wicked nations are nothing to him; they will not stand against him. He is not some man-made idol. He made the earth and he rules over it. He brings out the stars like an army calling them by name. They are his army! God made everything and we can never comprehend his wisdom. But when we wait on him and trust him, he renews our strength and we have the power to rise up and continue the race. *** God called Cyrus from Persia to be his deliverer. He will conquer many nations because the Lord has ordained this. Though their answer was to build more statutes to their gods - it’s all in vain. God will strengthen his people and encourage them but confuse and humiliate their enemies. Israel, that was once on the bottom would rise to be an instrument of destruction against God’s enemies. Then the people will rejoice. *** The city of Ephesus was a commercial epicenter. It was the home of the great temple of Diana which was one of the great wonders of the world. *** The church at Ephesus was made up of both Jews and Gentiles. Paul had lived there for three years so he knew and loved the people intimately. He wrote this letter while in prison in Rome. He addresses them as “faithful followers of Jesus Christ.” *** Paul reminds us that God knew us, chose us, and loved us before he even made the world. He adopted us as his children through Christ with great pleasure and joy. He purchased our freedom from sin and poured out on us his lavish grace. His plan is to bring us all together under the name of Christ. They were seeing the manifestation of this as they realized that the Gentile were invited into God’s family. *** Lord, we pray that our hearts will be filled with spiritual wisdom and the knowledge of you. We pray that we will understand the greatness of your power for us who believe. Thank you for Jesus, our head, who makes us complete.

Sun,’s Devo - God’s Deliverance

Read: Isaiah 37:1-38:22; Galatians 6:1-18; Psalm 65:1-13; Proverbs 23:24 The letter from the king of Assyria was read to Hezekiah and he also tore his clothes in despair and put on burlap. He sent his leaders to Isaiah to tell him what was going on and have him pray for them. *** Isaiah told them not to be afraid of the way King Sennacherib blasphemed God and said He was not on their side and would not help them. God would move against Sennecherib and he would get a message that he is needed at home. When he returns, God will have him killed with the sword. *** King Sennacherib did get the message that the king of Ethiopia was on his way to his kingdom to attack it. Before he left, he sent a message to Hezekiah telling him not to think that this matter was over, he would return and do what he promised he would do. None of the other nations had prevailed to save themselves and neither would Jerusalem. *** Hezekiah took Sennacherib’s letter to the Temple and spread it out on the ground for God to see. He prayed that God would judge Sennacherib’s arrogance and rescue them. *** Isaiah sent the king a word from the Lord. God was laughing at Sennacherib’s taunts against him and his people. God made it clear that all his victories were not his doing, but God’s. God had planned everything from long ago and he was a mere vessel in God’s hands. God knows Sennacherib’s heart and where he lives and because of his arrogance he will lead him with a hook in his mouth back to his home. His sign to Hezekiah was that God would sustain them for three years and by the third year they will be harvesting their fields like before. *** That night, the angel of the Lord went and killed 185,000 of the Assyrian soldiers. When they woke up they were surrounded with corpses. King Sennacherib returned to his own land to his capital Nineveh. There he was killed by the swords of his own sons as he worshipped his god Nisroch. Another of his sons, Esarhaddon became the next king of Assyria. *** Hezekiah became very ill and Isaiah went to tell him to set his affairs in order because he was going to die. Hezekiah immediately prayed reminding God of all he had done for him. God had mercy and sent Isaiah back to him. Isaiah told him that God had heard his prayer and he was giving him 15 more years to live and He would deliver him from the Assyrians. God gave him a sign to prove he had said this: He caused the shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial. He told him to put a fig pack on his wound and it would heal. Hezekiah asked what sign would he give him that he would one day be able to enter the Temple of the Lord. *** In Galatians Paul encouraged the people to help their weak brother back onto the path of righteousness but to not get entangled in their sin that brought them down. *** Paul warned them that they would always reap the seeds they planted. There would always be a reaction for their actions. They decided if they would reap death by sinning, or life by following the Spirit. *** Circumcision and outward signs of salvation don’t merit anything in the end. The question will be if we allowed God to transform us into a new creation. Paul pointed out that the ones who wanted everyone circumcised were doing it just so they looked good and claim them as their disciples. Paul never wanted to be able to boast in anything bit the cross of Christ. His scars were his proof that he belonged to Christ. *** Lord, may we boast only in you. Thank you for your sacrifice on the cross and your resurrection. which was all we need to grant us salvation. We praise you for all you have done and continue to do. May your name be great in the earth.

Sat.’s Devo - Walk in the Spirit

Read: Isaiah 33:10-36:22; Galatians 5:13-26; Psalm 64:1-10: Proverbs 23:23 God stands up to declare that he is more powerful than the Assyrians. They will descend on Jerusalem like a consuming fire, but those who are honest and fair and don’t extort the people or take bribes, who don’t murder or ignore injustice will survive. They will dwell in the mountains and be supplied with food and water in abundance. *** In the future, they will look back and wonder about these evil enemies who boasted of their victory. Instead of destruction, they will see the safe and prospering city of Jerusalem where the people live in peace and happiness. They will dwell under the loving care of the Lord who is their judge and king. *** Next, the Lord will destroy Edom who is marked for destruction. It will be God’s righteous revenge for what they did to Israel. It’s judgement will never end. The land where Edom lived will forever lay desolate. It will be a home for the wild animals. *** When the Lord destroys his enemies, he will open the eyes of the blind, cause the deaf to hear, the lame will walk and the dumb will speak. God will water the thirsty land and feed the hungry heart. God will open the way for all to come back to Jerusalem singing with joy. *** Chapter 36 is the story of when King Sennacherib of Assyria came to attack Jerusalem. The leaders of Assyria went out to meet with Hezekiah’s officials and give Hezekiah a message. The Assyrian officers used all sorts of intimidation and lies to tear down the confidence Hezekiah’s men had in the Lord. They yelled all this in Hebrew so it would tear down the morale of their army. The leaders of Assyria offered peace if Hezekiah would surrender and become their slaves. They made is sound like they would have the same things they now had, only it would be in their land. *** The people didn’t respond because they had been told to be silent. The officers tore their clothes in despair and took Sennacherib’s message to Hezekiah. *** In Galatians, Paul talked about the freedom they had in Christ. It was not freedom to sin, but freedom to love and serve one another. The only way to do this is by being led by the Holy Spirit. It produces the fruits of love joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. *** Lord, since we have nailed our sinful nature to the cross, may we walk in your Spirit and love and serve You and one another with joy.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Rescue Plan

Read: Isaiah 30:12-33:9; Galatians 5:1-12; Psalm 63:11: Proverbs 23:22 Israel sent ambassadors to Egypt to pay them to help them against the Assyrians that were on their way to Jerusalem. They hadn’t even considered asking the Lord for help. God was tired of being ignored and his prophets rejected. He sent Isaiah to tell them that they would be destroyed by their enemy and the only hope they had was to return to him. He had waited and would continue to wait for them to come to him. If they returned to him, he promised to help them and respond to their prayers He would teach them the way to go and bless their harvests with plenty. *** When the Lord comes to rescue them, he will be full of anger against their enemies. They will be lead away to die. *** But, God’s people will sing songs of joy because God has destroyed their enemies with his royal scepter. Woe to those who trusted in Egypt to rescue them. That is like saying, ‘woe to us who trust in any man to rescue us.’ Only God can do that. He can use a man, but God will be behind him and it will be His power that does it. Isaiah said Egypt’s power was puny flesh, not mighty spirits. It is God’s army that will win our victory for us. *** Isaiah sees the day when Israel will throw away their idols and return to the Lord. The army of the Lord will destroy their enemies, and even the Assyrians will tremble and run. God will give them a righteous king to rule them. Honest princes will rule under his rule and the people will get the truth instead of ‘fake news’. The ungodly will not be the heroes of the day. They oppressed the poor and took advantage of the underdog. God will exalt those who will give freely of what they have. *** Isaiah had a word to the women of ease who were lazy and complacent. They will see their luxuries taken from them and lose all their riches. Their cities will lay desolate and become homes to wild animals. *** When the time of bondage is over, God will pour out his Spirit on his people and justice and righteousness will rule the people. They will live in safety and peace forever. God will greatly bless his people. *** The Assyrian who were like the Deep State of our day will be destroyed. They had never been the one betrayed until now. They had always been powerful and the terror of the whole earth. They will run at the sound of God’s voice. God will give us his salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. *** At the time of Isaiah’s prophecy, the Assyrians had broken their peace treaty with Israel and Israel was mourning because destruction was all around them. *** In Galatians, Paul warns us to remain in our state of being free in Christ. There is no act we can do to make ourselves righteous. They kept getting hung up over circumcision, but we all have our self-made laws that keep us from enjoying the freedom we have in Christ. It all goes back to faith in Christ. *** Lord, may we live freely in our walk with you. May we enjoy your presence and all your blessings. Thank you that you are ending the reign of our enemies and you are exalting us to reign with you on this earth. May we be generous and full of love.

Thurs.’s Devo - Live as Sons

Read: Isaiah 28:14-30:11; Galatians 3:23-4:31; Psam 62:1-12; Proverbs 23:19-21 The leaders of Jerusalem had found a way, they thought, to live forever. They had been so deceived they believed nothing could harm them. What they trusted in was nothing but lies. *** God was placing a cornerstone, a righteous standard that would test their hearts. Their lies would be exposed as empty hopes. The fate they thought they were exempt from would come in like a flood and destroy their lies and their lives. Jerusalem would become an altar covered with blood. God would fight against her. After Jerusalem is destroyed, God would turn and fight the ones who he used to destroy it. *** God’s plans will be hidden from his rebellious people. The humble will survive and their eyes will be opened to see what the Lord is doing. The remnant will understand it had to happen this way and it is glorious. *** Those who didn’t know the Lord would turn to Egypt for help, but they would get nothing from them. Their payment to Egypt will be in vain. *** God instructed Isaiah to write all this down because it will stand until the end of time as a witness against them because they refused to hear the words of God’s prophets. *** In Galatians, Paul taught us that the law kept us till faith could come through Christ. Now Christ is our guardian, the keeper of our soul. We are now God’s children because of our faith, not Jewish DNA. We Gentiles are now heirs to all the promises God gave Abraham. *** Paul reminds us that it is our choice to live like a slave or to live like a son. The law made us slaves but the salvation that Jesus gives invites us to be God’s son. *** Lord, may we live like sons and daughters of the Lord and not slaves to sin. Thank you for this great covenant you have offered us. Great are you, Lord!

Wed.’s Devo - The Promise

Read: Isaiah 25:1-28:13; Galatians 3:10-22; Psalm 61:1-8; Proverbs 23:17-18 Isaiah continues praising God for delivering them from Babylon and setting up his new kingdom. God has torn down the mighty nations that defied the Lord, but has been a tower of refuge for his people during it. *** In Jerusalem, God will spread a feast just like Psalm 23 says, “He prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies.” No longer do the heathen rage with their taunts and lies. The cloud of oppression is gone and sorrow will be replaced with joy. The people will openly declare that God is good and He is their God. *** People in Judah will sing of the walls of salvation, God’s peace and faithfulness. God has made the crooked ways straight and smooth. Righteousness and kindness will return to the land, God will be their ruler and make their nation great again. Those that died in the Lord will be resurrected to new life. *** This is their promise, and until it manifests on the earth, they are told to stay safe at home. God is going to be punishing the wicked and rounding up the offenders. The murderers will be exposed for all the world to see. *** God will punish Leviathan - the dragon of Revelation, the serpent of Genesis. But, God will watch over his remnant that he calls his vineyard. He will burn up its briers and thorns and water it from heaven. Israel will fill the whole earth with its fruits. *** God didn’t punish Israel as he judges other nations. He exiled her to purge her of her wickedness. All of her pagan altars will be crushed to dust and Jerusalem would lay empty until the 70 years were complete. Then, the Lord will gather them and bring them back home where they will worship the Lord on his holy mountain. *** Samaria had become a proud city of drunks. All reason and wisdom was lost in the wine they consumed. They complained at the words of the prophets who always said the same thing - repent. Samaria will be trampled and destroyed. In time, Samaria would be restored with a desire for justice and love for the Lord. *** In Galatians, Paul explained that if you want to live by the law then you are choosing a curse because the law requires that you follow it to the tee. Any discrepancy and you are doomed. They law was not given to make a person righteous - only faith can do that. *** Christ rescued us from the curse of the law on the cross. He was cursed so we could be blessed. God gave Abraham the promise that his seed would bring a blessing to the whole world. He was talking about Jesus. The law was not even in effect till 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. Moses was the mediator between God and man to help God and man reach an agreement. But God didn’t use a mediator when he gave the promise to Abraham. So which is better the law or the promise? The promise is better because the law brought death and the promise brings life. *** Lord, thank you for the promise of everlasting life and your presence that is always with us. May we be witnesses to the world of your love that dwells in us.

Tues.’s Devo - Good News for the Remnant -

Read: Isaiah 22:1-24:23; Galatians 2:17-3:9; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 23:15-16 The Valley of Visions was Jerusalem, the city of the prophets. Isaiah saw the day when Jerusalem would be under siege and starving. He tells the people that this was planned by the Lord long ago. That is why he can see it before it happens. God had sent his prophets to tell them to repent, but they partied instead. They would receive judgement for their sins. *** Isaiah confronts Shebna, the palace administrator for building a great sepulcher for his body when he died. He would never be buried there because he was going to be taken captive to Babylon where he would die. He would be pulled out of his high position and be replaced by Eliakim. God will dress Eliakim in Shebna’s royal robes and give him his title and authority. God will give him the keys to the house of David and he will be in charge of opening and closing doors. He will bring honor to his family name and be given great responsibility. This is also referring to the transfer of authority fro, Satan to Jesus. *** The last verse in Chapter 22 is so prophetic of today. The Lord says that he is going to pull out a nail that seemed to hold everything up and when He does, it is all going to come crashing down. This global mafia that has been governing world events is being dismantled and the whole house of cards is falling apart. Hallelujah! God is building his Kingdom in its place. *** Tyre was the city of international trade. It was attacked and left in ruins. This was the crash of their economy. There will be no escape for the guilty when Babylon falls. Tyre will lie in ruins for 70 years then be rebuilt and be just as sinful as before but her wealth will be given to provide food and fine clothing for God’s priests (which are us!). *** Isaiah sees God destroying all the surface glory and all the worldly systems and sin being judged. But, the remnant is rejoicing and praising the Lord when this happens. The gods of the earth will be punished and put in prison. God will then rule the earth with great glory! *** Paul talks about the new life we have entered when we gave up being a slave to the law. He reminds us that we have been crucified with Christ and now he lives in us and through us. Then, he gave us his Holy Spirit. *** Paul reprimanded the believers for still trying to live under the law. Abraham was found righteous by his faith. The law hadn’t even been given, so the law was not the way to righteousness. The law revealed sin. Only faith in Christ can make us righteous. *** Lord, may we remember that it is by faith we are saved and not by anything we can do to be saved. May your spirit in us be what guides us today and shines through us to others we meet.

Mon.'s Devo - God’s Warnings to the Nations

Read: Isaiah 19:1-21:17; Galatians 2:1-16; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 23:13-14 God gave Isaiah a message concerning Egypt. Egypt will be turned over to the Assyrians and nothing them or their gods could do would stop it. It will break the spirits of the people and devastate their land. The leaders will be powerless and have no wisdom to save their nation. *** The Lord of heaven’s army will be feared by the Egyptians and five of Egypt’s cities will begin to follow the Lord and speak Hebrew. One of these cities will be Heliopolis. *** They will erect an altar to the Lord in the heart of Egypt which will be a sign and a witness that the Lord is worshipped there. God will heal Egypt and the Assyrians will join them in worshipping the Lord. *** Isaiah was told to walk around without his burlap and his sandals to show that Ethiopia and Egypt would be taken prisoner to Babylon. They would walk naked and barefoot to their shame. The Philistines would panic to see this thinking they are next. *** God gave a message to Babylon saying disaster was coming to them. God will give the Medes and the Elamites the okay to attack Babylon. Isaiah sees the great feast that Belshasar was at the night he saw the writing on the wall. That was the night Babylon was attacked. The Medes came underwater under the gate and were inside the castle before the watchmen saw them. Isaiah warns the watchmen of this. All of Babylon’s idols would lie broken on the ground. *** Isaiah got a message from Edom because a cry for mercy was coming from them. God says it would come but only for a short time. *** Isaiah received a word for Arabia. He warned them to flee to the desert and hide because only a remnant would survive what was coming. *** In Galatians, Paul is still telling his testimony. When Paul came out of his isolation, 14 years later he went to Jerusalem to share with them all the Spirit had taught him to see if it bore witness to them. They all agreed and didn’t even care that Titus was not circumcised. But, some spies had infiltrated that meeting to see how they could take away their freedom they had in Christ, but it didn’t work. *** The leaders of the church welcomed Paul and agreed that he had been given the calling to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. James and Peter even recognized Paul and Barnabas as their coworkers. *** Peter came to Antioch and, at first, ate with the Gentile believers, but when friends of James showed up he stopped eating with Gentiles and even insisted the Gentiles get circumcised. Paul called him out on his hypocrisy. He reminded Peter that a man is not made right by obeying the law but by having faith in Christ. No man will be made right by following the law. *** Lord, may we not be deceived into thinking our righteousness will save us. It is by grace we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

Sun.’s Devo - God’s Remnants 9-14-25

Read: Isaiah 15:1-18:7; Galatians 1:1-24; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 23:12 This prophecy was probably given the first year that Hezakiah became king and was fulfilled four years later when Ar and Kir in Moab were attacked by the Assyrian army. It is believed that Moab might have aligned with Syria and Israel against Assyria. *** When this happened Moab turned to their idols for help which were powerless. Those who tried to escape were killed by lions. *** They sent lambs as tribute to Israel for help. They cried out at their sacred altars, but it was all in vain. This was prophesied years before it happened, and now in three years it was all be over and Moab was no more. Only a few very weak remained. *** Isaiah was given a prophecy about Damascus, the capital of Syria and the fortified cities of Israel. They would be destroyed. Israel would be left desolate with a small remnant remaining. At last, they will look to the Lord for help and desert their idols and turn to the Lord. They will realized that their idolatry got them where they are today. *** They will hear the threats of many nations, but they will not come. God will protect them from being completely destroyed. *** Ethiopia will plan to come against Israel but will fight against the Lord and they will be left dead on the battle field. Their bodies will be eaten by the birds and the wild animals. Instead of attacking Israel, they will bring gifts to them. *** Paul wrote to the church in Galatia letting them know that this letter was not just from him, but from all the brothers and sisters with him. He prayed for grace and peace for them before he reprimanded them. *** He had heard that they were turning away from their trust in Christ to follow a cult that twisted the truth of Christ. These Judaizers were teaching them to fall back under the law, and that Paul didn’t know what he was talking about. Paul gave his testimony about how he was saved in such a miraculous way. Then he went apart for a few years to hear from God. His teachings come from that time with the Holy Spirit. *** Lord, may we not get back under the law but rely on your Spirit to lead us into the truth of Your Word. Thank you for setting us free from bondage and into the light of truth.

Sat.’s Devo - The Day of the Lord

Read: Isaiah 12:1-14:32; 2 Corinthians 13:1-14; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 23:9-11 Chapter 12 is a psalm of praise and victory to the Lord. In Chapter 13, Isaiah received a word about the destruction of Babylon and its whole anti-god system. They had been used by God to bring his judgement on the nations and now it was their time to be judged. This is the “day of the Lord.” All sinners will be dealt with as the earth and heaven shakes with God’s fury. There will be no place for the sinner to hide. *** God will use the Medes to bring about this judgment because they wouldn’t be bribed or distracted from their task. They will take down generations of wicked people. Babylon will be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. *** But, here is the good news… The Lord will choose his people once again and they will return to Israel and settle in their own land. They will be the true Jewish people who had been scattered all over the world. Other nations will help them return. Nature will respond with praise and joy. *** Lucifer will be thrown down to the pit. When he arrives the inhabitants of the abyss will stare in wonder that he is the one who boasted so proudly and is now defeated so greatly. He will not even be given a grave or a proper burial on the earth. His descendants will receive no honor. *** God’s people will no longer be the slaves. We will see what God had planned for their destruction. Nothing will be able to stop God’s plans. *** God gave a word to the Philistines the year King Ahaz of Israel died. The Philistines were not to rejoice that he was dead, even though he waged battles against them in his life time. God was sending another army to wipe them off the face of the earth. But God will give refuge to his people who put their trust in Him. *** All of this happened in their day but will happen and is happening in our day. *** In Corinthians, Paul warns the church at Corinth that he is coming the third time and he hopes he will find them cleaned up of their sins. He encourages them to do some introspection of their lives before he gets there to make sure their faith is real. *** Paul was coming with apostolic authority as their spiritual father and he was hoping to be able to use his authority to build them up instead of to tear them down. He ends his letter encouraging them to love one another and live in harmony and peace. *** Lord, may your grace and fellowship be with us today. We hide beneath the shadow of your wings. May your glory shine over all the earth.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Hand of Justice

Read: Isaiah 10:1-11:16; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21: Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 23:6-8 God begins today warning the unjust judges who unfairly deprived widows and orphans of justice. They would receive their punishment from the faraway land of Assyria. *** The army of Assyria was marching across the land destroying nation after nation. This army was God’s tool of bringing his justice to the world, then God would deal with them. Assyria was proud and arrogant and believed it was their own strength that brought them their victories, but they were mere tools in God’s hands. *** God would allow a remnant to return to Him. He encouraged those taken to Babylon not to worry when they were oppressed by the Babylonians because he would one day end their bondage. A new branch will grow who belongs to the family of David. This new branch will be Jesus who will have the seven Spirits of God: (1) the Spirit of God, (2) the spirit of Wisdom, (3) understanding, (4) the Spirit of counsel, (5) might, (6) The Spirit of knowledge, (7) and the fear of the Lord. Notice that the last six are coupled together because they are inseparable. You can’t have the Spirit of Wisdom without understanding or the Spirit of counsel without might, or the Spirit of knowledge without the fear of the Lord. *** Isaiah goes on to say that the Messiah would delight in obeying the Lord and will bring justice to the poor and those exploited. Nature will respond to his words and with his breath he will destroy the wicked. He will walk in righteousness and truth. *** He will cause peace and reconciliation where there has never been peace before, like between the lion and the lamb. This is speaking of what is happening right now as peace is being brought about all over the earth. *** It goes on to say that God’s standard will be raised in all the earth. Hallelujah! Revival will break out everywhere and God will gather his real Jews to Israel. The jealousy between Israel and Judah will be over. They will together plunder the ungodly and occupy their lands. God will make a way where there seems no way. *** In Corinthians, Paul is still talking about the “super apostles” who the people financed and thought so highly of. Paul is coming to see them for the third time as a father. He explains that fathers take care of their children, not vice versa. He doesn’t expect them to pay his way. Some of them had complained that he took advantage of them before. Paul promises that he only wants to see them grow stronger in Christ and everything he has done was for that purpose. He is praying that when he comes they have changed their evil ways and are walking in righteousness and love. *** May we be found strong and walking in love at the end of our journey. Thank you Lord, that you make a way where there seems no way.

Thurs.’s Devo - We Look to the Lord

Read: Isaiah 8:1-9:21; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 23:4-5 The Lord led Isaiah to make a huge sign with the word Maher-shalalhash-baz which translates “quickly the spoil; speedy is prey.” This would be the name of his son his wife was carrying. Before the child could talk, Assyria would take the riches of Damascus and Samaria. They were the countries who had threatened to attack Jerusalem. *** God speaks to Judah and tells them how he loved them and wanted to be their God but they rejected him. So now, they will be destroyed and none of their attempts to stop it will work. *** God warned Isaiah not to perceive what was happening to them like everyone else was seeing it. All they saw was the bad. He was to keep his eyes on the Lord and fear him only. He was to remember and live by God’s teachings. *** In the future, Galilee of the Gentiles will be filled with glory. Those who have walked in darkness will see the light and rejoice. They will break the yoke of slavery from their backs and be oppressed no more. *** A child will be given to them also, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He will rule them with fairness and justice. (This, of course is Jesus.) *** Israel would be destroyed by the Assyrians and everyone from the leaders to the false prophets will be destroyed. Then people would attack one another and then devour their own children. The Lord will continue to attack them because they refuse to ask for his help. *** In Corinthians, Paul tells about how reluctant he is to tell them of visions he had of being taken up to the third heaven, because he would rather boast about his weakness. He is not trying to impress them with how great he is but in how much he needs Christ. He had a weakness that kept him on his knees. Every time he prayed that it would be taken away, God said his grace was all he needed and that God works best through weakness. *** Lord, may we never forget that we need you every day, every hour, every minute. You are our strength and our Lord. Our eyes are on you.

Wed.’s Devo - The Coming Messiah

Read: Isaiah 6:1-7:25; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33; Psalm 54:1-7; Proverbs 23:1-3 This was Isaiah’s first recorded prophecy. Uzziah had just died after reigning for 52 years. Isaiah could have been a teen-ager at that time. He saw the Lord on his throne all his glory. He saw the seraphim and the Temple of God in heaven. Isaiah thought his days were over and he was going to die until a seraphim touched his lips with a burning coal from the altar. The Lord asked for a messenger to tell the people what he wanted them to know and Isaiah volunteered. God told him he would tell him things he would not understand and was not to try to figure out the meaning. His message would harden the hearts of the people and they would not understand either. They were not supposed to. He would warn them of what was coming, not so they would repent, but so God could judge them. Their hearts had already condemned them. He was to prophecy till the whole land became desolate. *** The next prophecy we read was when Ahaz became king. Jotham had ruled 16 years and now Ahaz was ruling. Ahaz was not a good king. King Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel were coming to attack Judah. *** God told Isaiah to take his son Shear-jashub and go meet the king as he went to the upper pool. He was to tell the king not to fear their attack because it would never happen. *** Later, Isaiah sent Ahaz another message asking him to name the sign he wanted to show him the Lord was promising this to him. Ahaz refused to ask for a sign so Isaiah gave him one. He told him that the virgin would have a son and name him Emanuel which means “God is with us.” By the time the child was weaned these two kings would no longer be a threat. But, then the Lord would send the nation of Assyria upon him and the army of Egypt. They will destroy everything and the entire land would become briers and thorns. *** A few things to note: The name of Isaiah’s son Shear-jashub means “a remnant will return.” God was already giving the end from the beginning. Isaiah’s wife had another son who fulfilled the sign of the son who would prove that God was with them. When he was weaned all these things happened. The prophecy was also a messianic prophecy of Christ who would come and reconcile us to God. *** In Corinthians, Paul is trying to knock some sense into the people who have become so deceived by these super apostles who won them over with talk of their great achievements. Paul gives them the list of his great achievements which were all about his persecutions. He laid down his life for what he preached. He did this for Christ and for the people he served. *** Lord, may we be willing to speak the truth no matter what it costs us. Thank you that your Word always leaves us with the promise of a better time coming. May we be the remnant that rebuilds the ruins.

Tues.’s Devo - Why Jerusalem will Fall

Read: Isaiah 3:1-5:30; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 22:28-29 Because of their sin, God was going to take everything away from the people of Judah: their food, water, army, leaders, justice, spiritual leaders and wisdom. They will be left following young leaders who have no wisdom or integrity. These “leaders” will not even try to hide their wickedness. God said the people brought this upon themselves. *** There is good news for the faithful. Isaiah was to tell the godly that all will go well with them. They will receive the reward they deserve. But, the wicked will reap doom. *** God as our judge presents his case in the court of justice and makes the decision. He takes everything from Jerusalem in the settlement. Jerusalem will be left destroyed of all her beauty and substance. There will be so few men left that the ratio will be seven women to one man. The women will beg for his name just so they won’t die unmarried. *** But, God always has a remnant and his remnant will be beautiful and glorious. They will survive all the destruction of Jerusalem and God will wash them and provide for them just like he did the children of Israel who came out of Egypt. *** God considered Jerusalem as his vineyard that would produce much good fruit. But, instead it produced mainly wild fruit, so he has to cut it down and the people will be made to go into exile. During this time the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be exalted and God’s justice and righteousness will be displayed to all. God’s remnant will enjoy the land and all the blessings that had once been owned by the wicked. *** Some who are taken into exile will take their sins with them. They will still reject the Lord’s laws and think they know best. *** We can see the parallels of us in America. We have been ruled by silly rulers who had the sense of a two year old. We have watched our children stolen and trafficked, our youth deceived and adults robbed of wisdom and common sense. We have seen our streets turned into war zones and our schools turned into socialist training camps. But, we have also seen God’s people rising up to conquer evil and stand with God. We have seen a shift and a changing of the tide as we maneuver the Titanic back on the right path. It is a slow turn but it is happening and justice is returning to America. *** Paul warned the Corinthians not to be deceived into believing the “new teachings” of the new super-duper teachers of the day. Christ is the center of all we believe. Everything comes from him. Paul tried to make them see the difference between a sincere teacher like himself who didn’t ask for donations and the teachers who were coming asking for money and teaching them lies in exchange. He reminded them that even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. *** Lord, may we have patience to see the change come that we have been praying and believing for. May we not be deceived or led off the path of truth but remain steadfast unmovable. You are the center of our lives.

Mon.’s Devo - Restoration of Righteousness

Read: Isaiah 1:1-2:22; 2 Corinthians 10:1-18; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 22:26-27 Isaiah prophesied through the reign of four kings. Uzziah ruled 52 years. Jotham ruled 16 years. Ahaz ruled 16 years and Hezekiah ruled 29 years. All were considered “good” kings except Ahaz. *** Isaiah saw what was coming as a result of the rebellion of his people. In spite of the kings’ reforms and their efforts in trying to bring the people back to the Lord, Isaiah saw that their rebellion was going to lead them to ruin. He saw that their enemies would invade and destroy everything. Jerusalem would be abandoned and if the Lord doesn’t leave a remnant, it will be totally been wiped out. He compares what he sees coming to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. *** Jerusalem which was supposed to be the center of the worship of Jehovah had turned into a place of religious rituals that God hated. He called their worship sinful, disgusting and false. They only made the person feel pious. *** Isaiah told them to repent and give up their evil ways. Their sins were like scarlet but he wanted to make them white as snow. God wanted to bless them with plenty. *** God compared Jerusalem to a harlot, filled with murderers who loved bribes and refused to defend the helpless widow and orphan. God was going to defend them himself. He would remove all these leaders and turn Jerusalem back into a Home of Justice. They would be known was the Faithful City restored to justice and righteousness. The rebels and sinners would be completely destroyed. *** In the last days, the Lord will be magnified above everything. Peace will be mediated between the nations and war will be a thing of the past. Human pride will be humbled and only the Lord will be exalted. The leaders will be brought low and all will be judged. Their idols will be destroyed and their worshipers will try to escape God’s terror when he shakes the earth. *** We are living in that hour of history. We are literally seeing President Trump broker peace with nations that have been at war with one another for generations. They are now making trade alliances and shaking hands. We are watching as the Deep State tries to run and hide in underground cities. We are seeing idolatry and all sorts of evil exposed and dealt with. Righteousness is once again becoming the standard. This is going to take time to rebuild and restore, but we are on our way to a new age where Jesus is our king. *** In Corinthians, Paul reminds us that we don’t fight like mere humans with tangible weapons, but we wage war in the Spirit with spiritual weapons. We destroy pride that keeps people from turning to God. We capture rebellious thoughts and replace them with the knowledge of Christ. *** In Corinth, the church had been invaded by leaders who taught them to obey them because they were the supreme teachers with all the goods. Paul points out that godly authority comes from above and points to Jesus, not a person. The only thing we can boast in is Christ. *** Lord, help us to not take credit for anything. To you belongs all the glory and praise. Thank you for the day we are living in where we will see everything put under your feet. May we humbly walk through this season with our spiritual eyes open and our spiritual ears hearing your voice. May we walk in your authority and power.

Sun.’s Devo - The Gift of Generosity

Read: Song of Solomon 5:1-8:14; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 22:24-25 The young man, who is God begins by describing the fellowship he enjoyed when his bride was near. The bride describes a time when she heard her lover knocking on her door. As she is contemplating whether it is worth getting out of bed and redressing, he leaves. By the time she realizes she wants to see him, he has gone. This describes Israel’s relationship with the Lord all through the Old Testament. God would draw near, but they seemed preoccupied with the latest god they had collected from other countries. When they found themselves in trouble they would eventually turn to the Lord and he was faithful to deliver them. This happened over and over until finally, Israel was taken to Babylon for 70 years. She had no temple or place to worship God. *** In our story, the young women of Jerusalem ask her to describe why her lover was better than any other. She gives a detailed description of how lovely God is and it is like they are describing the Temple that once stood in Jerusalem. That was the closest thing they had that to give them a picture of who God was. But, the Temple was torn down. She speaks of the prophets and blamed them and their prophecies for what has happened to them. She is now ready to repent, just like the prophets had urged them to do. *** The young man describes the people as being as beautiful as that Temple they remember. To God, it was never the Temple he was interested in - it was them and their hearts. *** The young woman thinks there is no way she will ever be reconciled to her lover. He has gone to his garden looking for him. He assures her that he still sees her as lovely. He has not given up on her and still chooses her. He sees her coming out of her exile leaning on him. *** The story shifts to the woman’s sister who is growing into a young woman. There is much hope for her. She stands for Judah. But, she is also promiscuous like Israel and she goes after other lovers. Still the call goes out for her to come near to God and be his possession. *** In this book we see the relentlessness of God’s pursuit of a relationship with us as his children and his bride. May we respond with a resounding, “Yes!” *** In Corinthians, Paul makes a big deal about this offering they are taking up for the believers in Jerusalem. He uses it as an opportunity to teach them about generosity. Those who love to give and help others will be rewarded by the Lord. Their needs will be met and what they give will be remembered forever in eternity. Their gift is their seed which is planted in God’s garden and it will increase in a great harvest. As a result, God will get much glory and all will be blessed because of it. *** Lord, help us to have generous hearts to give to your Kingdom. May the promise of eternity lead our actions. Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Sat.’s Devo - God’s Love for Us

Read: Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16; 2 Corinthians 8:16-24; Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 22:22-23 Song of Solomon is a controversial book. I never know how to handle it in my blog. It can be an allegory of Israel and God, a love story between a man and a woman or a picture of how God thinks about us. I choose to use the latter one in my blog. I think of how Solomon wrote that he has never met a virtuous woman and in Proverbs 31 he asks “who can find a virtuous woman?” So, it is hard for me to see it as his encounter with a woman. I like to see it as God’s encounter with his first love which was Israel. *** Solomon wrote many songs but, to him this is his Song of Songs, his masterpiece. The woman begins the conversation describing her feelings for her new love. This reminds me of how we first felt when we gave our hearts to Jesus but also it describes Abram’s first encounter with the Lord when he called him and told him he would make him a Father of a nation. Later, God changed Abram’s name to Abraham and told him he would be the father of many nations. God called Abraham his friend and shared with him his secrets like when he was going to destroy Sodom. Abraham had such a love a respect for God, he was willing to lay down the life of his only son on the altar. *** In Solomon’s story others were happy for the woman, but then the woman begins to look at herself and do some introspection. She feels unworthy of her lover’s love. She feels a little unsure of his love, but he urges her to just follow him. He assures her of his love for her. They enjoy many intimate moments together. In God’s story with his people, Abraham’s heritage passed on to Isaac who passed it on to Jacob his son. Jacob had a rough start and had many “foxes” in his vineyard he had to catch. It looked like his vineyard would be destroyed but God found a redeemer through Joseph. *** The children of Israel went through years of walking away from God and being separated from the freedom to worship him like he had prescribed. They were exiles in Egypt for many years until God brought her out with many signs and wonders. They would enjoy years of worshiping the Lord, then years of rebellion. *** In Corinthians, Paul is happy that the people in the church in Corinth welcomed Titus with such love. Titus came to love them as Paul did. Paul would also be sending another helper with Titus who would be joining Paul in taking the collection they had gotten from the churches to the church in Jerusalem. The believers there were being terribly persecuted by the Jews and the government of Rome. *** Our Psalm tells us that God doesn’t need our sacrifices for himself. What he really wants is our thankfulness and praise. He wants us to keep our promises to him because he always keeps his promises to us. When we are in trouble he is just a prayer away. *** Lord, we thank you for all you have done for us in the past, present and future. Your love sustains and us and keeps us. May our hearts of gratefulness bring you much joy. All we have we owe to you.

Fri’s Devo - Solomon’s Conclusions

Read: Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 22:20-21 In Solomon’s last words, some of his themes were the injustice of imbalance. He saw fools leading the wise instead of vice versa. He rambled on about man’s words and how they can destroy him if they are foolish and give him honor if they are wise. It is important that the land is ruled by a wise king. *** Solomon gives tidbits about how to govern man’s affairs. To make progress, he will have to take some risks. *** He talks old age, remembering his youth. He reminds the youth that one day they will have to give an account for all they do. He does give some good advice: refuse to worry and keep your body healthy. During all our lives we should remember our Creator and honor him. Solomon concluded with: fear God and obey his commands because this is our duty and we will be judged for everything, whether it is good or bad. *** Thank God, we have Jesus who paid the price for all our sins and we now are slaves to righteousness not to sin. We will not be judged for our sins but we will be rewarded for our good deeds. *** In Corinthians, Paul reminds them of the generosity of the church in Macedonia. They faced many trials and were tested but they gave with so much joy. They gave eagerly out of their need. *** Paul encouraged the Corinthians to return to their ministry of giving and let their love be genuine. “How” they gave was more important than “how much” they gave. God loves a cheerful giver. *** Lord, may we have hearts of joyful generosity. May we not put our hope in our wealth but in your eternal wealth. You are the true treasure.

Thur.’s Devo - Solomon’s Ramblings

Read: Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:18; 2 Corinthians 7:8-16; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 22:17-19 Solomon begins by talking about the subject of death. He wants us to consider our ending and let it affect our living. He talks about the wisdom of listening to wise people and being able to take their criticisms. He reminds the wicked that they will not be rescued in death. No one is remembered after their death, according to Solomon. *** For a man who has 900 wives, he has a very low opinion of women. In all his looking, he never found a virtuous wife. He wrote of what he was looking for in Proverbs 31. Yet, later he tells us to live happily with the woman you love “through all the meaningless days of your life.” *** He gives some comical advice. I particularly like the ones about obeying the king, since he is the king. And, “wisdom is even better when you have money.” He tells us not to eavesdrop or we might hear someone say something bad about us. *** Since, people are not always honored or awarded during their lifetime, his advice is for everyone to have fun and enjoy life. At one point he says that our destiny is in the hands of God. Later, Solomon says our lives are up to chance - we never know when calamity is going to strike. He was certainly searching for meaning. *** Paul explains his first letter to the Corinthians where he chastised them for their sins. He was sorry he had to write it but not sorry he sent it because it brought about their repentance. Now they have clear consciences and zeal for righteousness. *** In the first letter, Paul wrote to the Corinthians there had been a man who was having an affair with his mother-in-law while his father was still alive. Paul had addressed this matter and the sexual promiscuity that was rampant in Corinth. He is so proud that they cleaned up their lives and now walk in purity. He was also pleased with the way they accepted Titus and gave them respect. *** Lord, thank you for your wisdom that leads us through our lives. May your righteousness be seen throughout the earth through your people and all that you have made.

Wed.’s Devo - Solomon’s Advise About Life

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 22:16 Solomon was a philosopher and was constantly observing man’s dealings in the world. He saw the oppression of the weak and helpless and concluded that it would have been better for them if they had never been born. *** He saw and listed the things which he thought were meaningless: the motivation to get rich because of envy, the rich who had no heir, foolish kings, those who love money and never have enough, never taking time to enjoy life, wanting what you don’t have and not enjoying what you do, and thinking that wealth brings happiness. *** He did give us some good advice like learning to listen instead of talking all the time, and making true on our promises. *** Solomon found one thing on the earth that he thought was good which was for people to enjoy the wealth God gives them. He advised people to take time to enjoy their life and health because staying busy keeps them from brooding over the past. *** He ended with saying that our destiny was set a long time ago and we should be content with how God made us. Our days are few so we should make the most of them. *** Paul gives us further advice. Christians should not partner with unbelievers; we are of two different kingdoms with different motives and purposes. God called us out of the world and into his family. So we should cleanse ourselves of what is not holy. *** Paul took great strength and encouragement from the news Titus brought him about the faith of the Christians in Corinth. This gave Paul much joy. *** Lord, may our lives bring you much joy. May we have your attitude about wealth, life and death. May we not just be observers but doers. Show us ways to let your light shine through us to lighten the lives of those around us.

Tues.’s Devo - Purpose

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Psalm 46:1-11; Provers 22:15 We could call Ecclesiastes “The Book of Cynicism.” Solomon who was the wisest man on earth saw the world as meaningless and predictable. He sees the world with all its business and trouble and sees no cure for it. Man keeps running the same cycle like a hamster on a treadmill. *** Solomon observed work, history, understanding, pleasure, wealth, foolishness, and posterity, and found it all “chasing after the wind.” *** He did find that everything had “time” in common. There was a time for everything under the sun and most people experience all of these things during their lifetime (3:1-9). He realized that God made everything beautiful in its own time. God has put inside everyone the concept of eternity and resurrection. So, he concluded that everyone should enjoy themselves on earth as much as they can, while they can, because soon they will all die. This is how Solomon saw life. *** It is interesting to note that Ecclesiastes was put in the Bible to show us how man in his greatest wisdom sees things. Solomon was old and had gone the way of his idol-worshiping wives when he wrote this. Solomon also wrote Proverbs in his youth, when he honored God and it was a book about God’s wisdom and how God sees things. It is a striking comparison where in Proverbs he wrote “the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord,” to Ecclesiastes where he penned “life is meaningless.” *** Paul talks about “time” also. He says at just the right time, God saved us. Today is that day of salvation and it is a marvelous gift from God. Salvation brings purpose to life. He says that after being beaten, having faced prison and angry mobs, been worked like a slave, endured sleepless nights and gone without food his life was proved to be purely devoted to God. Solomon never faced any of these yet he constantly complained. Paul faced all these with joy because of the Holy Spirit within him who gave him purpose. His power gave Paul the eyes to see that his righteousness was a weapon against the enemy. Paul had found that joy doesn’t come from anything this world produces. Joy comes from being spiritually rich. *** Lord, may our wealth come from knowing you. May our lives be to glorify You in all we do. Thank you for trials that show us you are the answer to all we need. Thank you that our lives are full of purpose and meaning.

Mon.’s Devo - Restoration

Read: Job 40:1-42:17; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 22:14 After the Lord proclaimed his mighty works, he asked Job if he had any further arguments with him. Job said he had already said too much. *** God continued to speak from the whirlwind. He had some questions for Job. He asked him if Job would discredit His judgment to prove he was right. If he was stronger than God then he needed to prove it and God promised to be impressed. *** God drew Job’s attention to Behemoth which many scholars today think to be the rhinoceros. I question that because it says it has a graceful form and that is the last thing I would say about a rhinoceros. I wonder if it wasn’t a serpent-like dragon since lighting and flames leap from its mouth and smoke streams from it nostrils. It was a serpent that tricked Eve. And, it lives in the sea. *** God asked Job who he was to question his wisdom. Job repented and took back everything he had said and God totally forgave him. God then went to Job’s three friends and rebuked them for speaking wrong about him and said that Job was right. He gave them a way to get right with him. After they offered their perfect sacrifices, Job would pray for them and they would be accepted by Him. They obeyed and when Job prayed for them, God restored Job’s fortune. He reconnected with his family and friends. They consoled Job and brought him gifts, restoring his wealth. *** God blessed Job’s hands and he had twice the number of animals and was given seven more sons and three daughters who were known for their beauty. His daughters were put in his will along with his sons. After that, Job lived 140 more years living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. *** My question is who wrote Job and how did they know about God’s meeting in heaven with Satan? I am not doubting its validity…just wondering if it was the scribes in heaven who wrote his story through men. *** In Corinthians, Paul realizes his responsibility to society is to be a sincere witness for Christ. This is our commission also. We do this through love and a sacrificed life. Christ made us a new person and we no longer judge like we used to. We are not the same person we were before Christ. Our job is now to reconcile the world to Christ and to God. *** Lord, may our lives honor you and shine like lights in the darkness of a sinful world. May we be ready with an answer for Christ.