Wed.’s Devo - The Really Good News!

Read: Isaiah 60:1-62:5; Philippians 1:27-2:18; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 24:11-12

Today’s reading has to be some of the most encouraging scriptures for us to read. It is describing a time of great darkness in the world but in the midst of it, the people of God arise to shine with the glory of God. This is a description of what is about to happen on the earth. 

First, God’s glory will come to the earth in a tangible form. The prodigal will return home. The wealth of the unrighteousness will be put into the hands of the righteous. Those that oppressed will serve their oppressors. Any nation that does not serve God’s people will be destroyed. Godly nations will be rebuilt. All the destruction that has been done in our cities will be rebuilt and restored greater than before. 

It will be an honor to be a Christian and people will flock to learn from believers. God will lead us with his light and the path will be plain and easy to follow. 

The poor will hear the good news of Christ and the hearts of the broken will be healed. Those bound in addictions will be set free. This is the year of God’s favor, but the day of his vengeance. We will no longer mourn and be afraid, but will rejoice with great joy. We will rebuild the devastation of many generations. 

God’s people will be his priests to minister to the people. They will have no lack or need. We will be recompensed for our slavery. The nations will rejoice instead of fighting and being in poverty. 

It says of Jerusalem that she will get a new name. I don’t know if that is literal, but we will see.  God will call her “My Delight.” She will no longer be forsaken, buy God will rejoice over Jerusalem.

Philippians was a church Paul founded in his second missionary journey. Paul was very close to these people and they supported him consistently throughout his life.

Paul probably wrote this while in prison to thank them for their contribution. He commended Epaphroditus who was bringing this letter to them and prayed that they be united and steadfast in their walk with the Lord. He told them not to fear their opponents because they would be destroyed one day.  He reminded them that their salvation was eternal.
Paul encourage them to stand in humility and truth and to have the mind of Christ. Jesus was God, yet he humbled himself to come to earth and be like them. Now, God has exalted him and given him the name above very name. 

It is God who is at work in us all to do his will and his pleasure. 

Lord, may we serve you without grumbling and may we be blameless when we stand before you knowing that we did not labor in vain but stood righteous in an unrighteous generation. May our lives be an offering to you. 

Tues.’s Devo - All For Jesus!

Read: Isaiah 57:14-59:21; Philippians 1:1-26; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 24:9-10

Israel had fallen into such pagan idolatry which brought the discipline of the Lord’s hand upon them. But, God wanted them to know that he would not always be disciplining them. God promised to heal his people of their backsliding and sin.

Chapter 58 outlines the fast of the hypocrite who fasted to look good. Then he explains what an acceptable fast is in his eyes. They were going through all the outward motions of looking humble, but God was looking for someone who would put actions to a contrite heart. Someone who would fight for the oppressed and help them break out of their yoke and if they saw someone hungry - to feed them and clothe them.

Then the Lord would answer them when they cried out to him. He will guide them and show them the way of righteousness and light. They will be spiritually refreshed and be a refuge for others. If they would honor the Sabbath and make it a holy day and take delight in the Lord, he would take delight in them. 

God wanted to bring justice but the people didn’t want it. They deceived one another and only looked out for themselves. They became like animals who devoured one another and had no truth. This displeased the Lord greatly and he realized there was no man able to save them. So, he did it himself. He put on righteousness and salvation and brought vengeance upon them. He determined to make them fear him. He made a covenant with them and promised that the words and the Spirit that was upon Isaiah would be put in mouth of his children and their offspring. 

When God orders judgement, he always brings with it hope and a good plan for the future. 

In Philippians, Paul offers the same hope for his converts. He is sure that God who began a good work in them would complete his plan in them. He prays that their love would abound more and more and that they be filled with the fruit of righteousness that only comes from Jesus. 

Paul was able to look at his life and see that all the suffering he endured was worth it; God used it all to further the kingdom. Paul got to meet many people in and out of prison that he would have never met if he hadn’t gone there. He sees that now. 

Paul’s ultimate prayer was that his life would honor Christ because Christ was living through him. 

Lord, may we grasp the fact that it is you who live through us. May we allow your Spirit to lead and direct our steps today. May our lives bring honor and glory to your name.

Mon.’s Devo - God, Our Deliverer

Read: Isaiah 54:1-57:13; Ephesians 6:1-24; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 24:8

God tells Israel who had lost so many people to expand their houses and spread out because they are going to be blessed with inhabitants. God had only left them for a moment, but will come again and bless them and their posterity. 

God uses the example of the flood of Noah’s day. He promised them he would never destroy the earth with water again, and he is promising Israel that he will not leave them again. He will have compassion on them. He will build them up to be great again. Their children will be taught to fear the Lord and they will experience great peace and righteousness. Their enemies will not be able to war against them or judge them. 

In Chapter 55, God tells them to spend their time on things that are eternal that can’t be bought with silver or gold. He tells them to return to him and learn of him; God has great plans for them that they can’t even imagine. When God says he will do something, he can not lie. It will happen. He is promising them that they will be filled with joy and peace and even the trees will respond with praise. 

While they are waiting for God’s hand to move they are to keep justice and do what is right. He will bless the man who keeps the Sabbath as a holy day and doesn’t do evil. 

He comforts the foreigner who has joined with Israel and tells them that he will treat them just like his own if they obey his laws and honor him. He will give them his name and adopt them to serve him and minister to him. God will gather all the outcast who remained loyal to him.

In Chapter 57, God speaks to the ones who the world thinks are righteous. They are dying and no one is paying attention why. They deceived the people with their self-righteous acts but behind closed doors did evil deeds. God will expose them and their idols will not be able to deliver them. But, those who take refuge in the Lord will possess the land and inherit his holy mountain. 

In Ephesians, God tells us to honor our father and mother which will result in the promise that things will go well with us and we will have a long life on earth. He tells the fathers to not provoke their children in anger, but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 

We are told to be strong in the Lord by wearing the armor God gave us to wear to stand against the schemes of the devil. Our enemy is not flesh and blood, but rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over darkness and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

The armor of God includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the message of the gospel of peace as our shoes, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. We are to pray all the time with all kinds of prayers and we are to stay awake spiritually. 

Paul asked for prayer that he might boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel even though he was in chains for doing that very thing. He had sent Tychicus to Ephesus to give them this letter and tell them how he was doing to encourage them. He prays for peace and love from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord may we walk in your grace and have your incorruptible love. May we not fear our enemies that are not flesh and blood but stand in your armor with your sword ready for battle.

Sun.’s Devo - Put on Strength

Read: Isaiah 51:1-53:12; Ephesians 5:1-33; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 24:7

God called the righteous to remember their beginnings as a nation. They came from the loins of Abraham who was called out of paganism to follow God. God will turn around their circumstances and make their wilderness like the Garden of Eden. God will set up his justice on the earth and he will judge the people. Disasters will happen in the earth but God’s salvation is there forever. 

God calls to the righteous to not be afraid of the threats of evil people. He tells his people to put on strength and wake up. Remember what God has done in the past when he dried up the Red Sea and delivered them from Egypt. His people will return to him with joy and singing. Sorrow and worry will be gone. God will comfort his people. He calls them to remember that he made the heavens and the earth. They should not fear what man does or says he will do. God is their Father.

They had drunk from God’s wrath and destruction. They saw much death and devastation, but that time is over. The time of being controlled and slaves is over. Isaiah called them to be strong and rise up and loose the bonds of slavery off of them. 

It is now the time for good news of peace, happiness and salvation. God calls them out of Babylon and he will go before them. The mouth of kings will be shut when they see what God does for his people. Isaiah then gives the best description of their Savior.

He will be someone who grows up among them who is not noticeably noble. He will be despised and rejected by people. They will not recognize him as their Messiah. He will bear all our grief and sorrow and will die for our sins. His wounds and pain will bring us peace and healing. 

He will take his suffering quietly and willingly. He will be judged in our place and die young. He will be placed in a rich man’s tomb and be called a wicked man. But it is God’s will to crush him and put all this on him. He is our guilt offering, our sin offering and our peace offering to God. God will accept his offering and it will make us righteous. 

Paul tells us in Ephesians to imitate God and walk in love. We are not to be sinning like the heathen do. God will punish the disobedient. We were called out of darkness so we are to have nothing to do with those who walk in sin. We are called  children of light and are to do what pleases the Lord. We are to walk in wisdom and the will of the Lord, singing and giving thanks always. Christ is now our husband and we are to practice loving him by loving our natural husband. 

Lord, you are doing extraordinary things in the earth. We trust you and look to you as the author and finisher of our faith. 

Sat.’s Devo - The Time of God’s Favor -

Read: Isaiah 48:12-50:11; Ephesians 4:17-32; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 24:5-6

The Lord confirms that he loves Cyrus and through Him, Cyrus will carry out God’s purpose concerning Babylon. God will lead Cyrus and he will prosper him in what he does. 

God laments that if Israel had obeyed him and been faithful to worship only him as their Lord, they would have lived in peace and would have multiplied. They would not have been destroyed or oppressed. But they rebelled, so they ended up captives in Babylon for 70 years. But, now God is calling them out of Babylon. He is redeeming them once again. Now, there will be no peace for the wicked. God raised up Isaiah to proclaim that he is bringing Israel back home. They will be a light to the nations that God’s salvation might be spread to the ends of the earth.

Israel was once despised among the nations but in the time of God’s favor everything will be reversed. They will be brought out of prison and their oppressors will honor and serve them. God will call his children from the far corners of the earth to return to Israel and return to him. He has not forgotten them. They will come back in hoards and there will be so many that there will not be enough room for all of them. Then God will oppress those who oppressed them. 

Isaiah testifies of how the Lord has sustained him because he trusted in him. He invites others to trust in the Lord and walk in his light.

In Ephesians, Paul tells the Ephesians not to walk in the dark but also to walk in the light of all they taught them about Christ. He tells them to let the spirit of their mind be renewed as they put on Christ who was created in God’s likeness in true righteousness and holiness.

He tells them to stop lying and tell the truth. Stop getting angry and forgive. Stop letting the devil steal from them and be honest in their work. Stop talking crudely and speak grace. Be kind and forgive so they will not grieve the Holy Spirit who sealed them for the day of redemption. 

Lord, may look forward to living in the days of your favor. May you reverse the curse that has been on the world because of our rebellion. May we turn back to you and witness the reversal of evil. May your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Day

Read: Isaiah 45:11-48:11; Ephesians 4:1-16; Psalm 68:19-53; Proverbs 24:3-4

God tells us to ask what is going to happen in the future. He made the earth and put man to live on it. He raised up Cyrus as a type of Jesus. He would rebuild Jerusalem and free God’s people to return home. He will do this freely, not for a reward.

Cyrus would be given the wealth of Egypt, Cush (Ethiopia) and the Sabeans (Iran, Iraq). They will surrender to him and say that his God is the only God. The nations that worshiped false gods will be disgraced, but those who trust in the Lord will be saved.

God did not create the world to be a place of empty chaos like he found it in Genesis. He created it to be inhabited by his people. God calls the worshipers of false idols to come and present their case before him. Who was the one who told them all this would happen? It was not their idols, it was the Lord.

God calls everyone in the world to turn to him willingly, because they will all bow before him whether they want to or not. They will either do it in shame or in worship.

Cyrus brought down the worship of Baal as Chapter 46 says.  He defies the worship of idols. God is the only god who declares the end from the beginning. He tells the prophets what will happen in the far future. 

In Chapter 47, Isaiah speaks of Babylon’s fall. Their hidden sin will be exposed so all can see. God had given his people into the hands of the Babylonians because he was angry at their rebellion. They showed the Hebrews no mercy and dishonored their elderly. So, two things will come upon them suddenly in a day: the loss of their children and their spouses. They trusted in their sorceries and wickedness and thought they could charm their way out of trouble. Their incantations will be nothing to the Lord. He will burn them with his fire and they will not be able to deliver themselves from his power. 

In Chapter 48, God is speaking to his people, Jacob who were rebellious and refused to worship him as their God. They swore by his name and talked about God, but they did not know him in truth or in righteousness. He was going to do something they had never seen before so they couldn’t say that they saw that coming. God would not cut them off, but he would not share his glory with these people. 

Many prophets are talking about the “Great and Terrible Day of the Lord” that is coming. This is what we just read about. It will happen in a day. The righteous will be saved but the wicked will be dealt with by God. It will be terrible for them but great for us.

In Ephesians, Paul explains what Christ did when he left the earth. He first went down to hell and led a host of captives to heaven with him. All who were righteous because of their faith in God were raised with Christ. In Matthew, it tells us that some of these resurrected men walked the streets of Jerusalem until Christ rose. 

Jesus also distributed his gifts to his disciples on the earth. The made some of the apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some shepherds and some teachers to do the ministry of building up his body on the earth. The goal is for us to be unified in the faith and knowledge of Christ and to mature into the fullness of Christ on the earth. Then we won’t be tossed to and fro by every wave of doctrine that comes along.

Paul admonishes us to speak the truth in love so that we might grow up into him as a healthy body with him as our head. 

Lord, may we be led in love. May we be prepared for the great and terrible day that lies ahead. May we not be afraid but excited about what you are doing on the earth. We were put on earth for this time in your story. All praise and glory be to your name. 

Thurs.’s Devo - God’s Purpose on the Earth

Read: Isaiah 43:14-45:10; Ephesians 3:1-21; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 24:1-2

God said he would take down the Babylonians for Israel’s sake. He reminds them of how he led them out of Egypt and led them across the Red Sea on dry ground. Then he provided water or them in the desert and led them. But, they didn’t worship him or give him anything in return. 

God forgave then their sins. He reminds them that their first ancestor Adam sinned against him, and all their leaders turned against him, so he profaned their priests and turned over Judah to be destroyed and Israel to be shamed. 

But now, he will help them and pour his Spirit upon their offspring and bless their descendants. They will call upon the name of the Lord and honor his name. 

Those who make idols and worship them will all be put to shame and humiliated. They made gods from wood and stone and actually believed them could help them. but, these idols are worthless and the ones who worship them are deceived. 

He calls them to remember that God made them and he has not forgotten them. He will once again forgive their sins and restore them. He will make fools of false prophets and those who think they are so wise. He will carry out the prophecies of his chosen prophets. The earth will respond with singing and joy. God will rebuild Jerusalem and send Cyrus to proclaim it. Cyrus will open the doors of trade to other nations who will greatly fear him. God will go before him and level the power of the ones ruling the world. He will crush their power and give Cyrus hidden treasures no one knew about. God will do this so Cyrus will know that he is the God of Israel. God will do this for the sake of his chosen people. Even though Cyrus didn’t know the Lord, he will use him, equip him and lead him to do his will. 

President Trump is a type of Cyrus and God is doing though him everything he did through Cyrus. President Trump is leveling the power of the ones who have wielded the power over the nations. He is opening trade to countries we have never traded with and they are afraid of him. God is giving him riches beyond what we have seen and we are entering into a Golden Era just like he proclaimed. It is glorious to see. God is doing all this for the sake of his chosen people.

God makes sure we know that he is the creator of light and darkness. He is the one who sends good times and bad times. The heavens will pour out righteousness so that the earth can receive it and bear righteous fruit. 

It will not go well for those who fight what God is doing. We must not argue with who God choses to use and why. Our job is to trust the Lord and his ways.

In Ephesians, Paul talks about the mystery of Christ. The mystery was that Christ was sent to the Gentiles the same as he was sent to the Jews. God’s plan was to save the world with his gospel. 

Paul was given grace to be a minister of this truth and to share the good news to the Gentiles as well as the Jew. It is God’s plan which had been hidden for ages to be revealed through the church. They would be his witnesses to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places. This was all realized in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now we have confidence through our faith in him. Paul prays that every chosen person in heaven and on earth to be strengthened with power in his Spirit so that Christ may live in their hearts. This revelation will help them to comprehend how great and expansive the love of God is and that they be filled with all the fulness of God. 

Lord, you are able to do so much more than we can even know to ask you to do. According to your power, may you work in us your glory and may it spread to all generations.