Read: Jeremiah 8:8-9:26; Colossians 3:1-17; Psalm 78:32-55; Proverbs 24:27
The people of Israel’s response to Isaiah’s rebukes were that they were wise because they had the law of God. Isaiah countered that they may have God’s laws but they had taken them and twisted them to feed their fancy. They had told the people that there would be peace in the land so God was going to give their wives to other men and the land to other people. Snakes would bite them, there would be no healing for their wounds -physical, spiritual or emotional. Their friends would deceive one another and there would be no one who was truthful. Death would come to many of them with no way of escape. God would punish everyone who was not a true follower of his law.
Paul encourages us to come up higher and see our lives from God’s perspective. Set our heart on the things he has set his heart on. We are to live compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We are to forgive one another and put on love which makes us one.
Psalms 78 laments over the sin of Israel. It says that the only way they would turn back is if he slew them. He only did this after time after time of forgiveness and restraint. When his bowl was full of their sin, it finally tipped and he had to bring judgment. God would rather choose mercy over judgment, but he will do whatever it takes to bring his children home - even judgment.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Sat.’s Devo. -The Temple of The Lord
Read: Jeremiah 6:15-8:7; Colossians 2:8-23; Psalm 78:1-31; Proverbs 8:8-9:26
Isaiah rebuked the prophets and the priests because they were not even ashamed of their blatant sins. God told them to seek the good way - His way that is full of righteous deeds and purity of heart. Isaiah begged them to look to the future and see the army that was going to rush in and take them. He still cried out for them to repent and trust him. They believed that because they lived in the city where the temple of God was that it would save them and God wouldn’t let it be destroyed.. God was the one who was sending their enemies against him and he wasn’t concerned about the temple. The temple was never a building but a concept. The temple of the Lord was in heaven but it was going to come down to earth in the man of Jesus Christ whose blood would enable that temple to be in us.
God said that if the people would repent and start treating the widow, the orphan and the poor with compassion, he would allow them to stay in their land. He reminded them of his promises to bless them if they would have obeyed him. They had chosen to worship idols so their bones would be not even be buried and the ones in the grave would be uprooted to dry in the sun. This was a great curse because they were very concerned about where their bones were buried. Joseph made his people swear that they wouldn’t let his stay in Egypt but be carried to the promised land and buried there.
Paul warned the Colossians not to be fooled by false teachers with false doctrine but to hold fast to the truth. God had ordained many feast and moon days as a type of what was to come. They were not to be worshipped; they all pointed to Christ who was to be worshipped.
Our Psalm gives us the way to keep us trusting the Lord as a nation; parents are to teach their children about God. Then their children will teach their children and so on and so on. We are living in a time when so many of the millennials don’t see the need to go to church which is sad because no one is teaching their children about God. Thank God for grand parents. I pray that revival will come to the millennials. We need them in the Body.
Lord, help us to know the truth and may the truth set us and our nation free.
Isaiah rebuked the prophets and the priests because they were not even ashamed of their blatant sins. God told them to seek the good way - His way that is full of righteous deeds and purity of heart. Isaiah begged them to look to the future and see the army that was going to rush in and take them. He still cried out for them to repent and trust him. They believed that because they lived in the city where the temple of God was that it would save them and God wouldn’t let it be destroyed.. God was the one who was sending their enemies against him and he wasn’t concerned about the temple. The temple was never a building but a concept. The temple of the Lord was in heaven but it was going to come down to earth in the man of Jesus Christ whose blood would enable that temple to be in us.
God said that if the people would repent and start treating the widow, the orphan and the poor with compassion, he would allow them to stay in their land. He reminded them of his promises to bless them if they would have obeyed him. They had chosen to worship idols so their bones would be not even be buried and the ones in the grave would be uprooted to dry in the sun. This was a great curse because they were very concerned about where their bones were buried. Joseph made his people swear that they wouldn’t let his stay in Egypt but be carried to the promised land and buried there.
Paul warned the Colossians not to be fooled by false teachers with false doctrine but to hold fast to the truth. God had ordained many feast and moon days as a type of what was to come. They were not to be worshipped; they all pointed to Christ who was to be worshipped.
Our Psalm gives us the way to keep us trusting the Lord as a nation; parents are to teach their children about God. Then their children will teach their children and so on and so on. We are living in a time when so many of the millennials don’t see the need to go to church which is sad because no one is teaching their children about God. Thank God for grand parents. I pray that revival will come to the millennials. We need them in the Body.
Lord, help us to know the truth and may the truth set us and our nation free.
Friday, October 5, 2018
Fri.’s Devo - Right Judgements
Read: Jeremiah 4:19-6:14; Colossians 1:21-2:7 Psalm 77:1-20; Proverbs 24:23-25
One verse gives us a clear picture of what is going on in the land. “I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.” God did everything to bless them yet they were totally unfaithful to him. They never thought God would actually call them to account for their sins but God did. God was going to bring a foreign nation against them that would not speak their language but be ruthless warriors.
Isaiah listed some of their offenses. They forgot that God had created them and the earth and was over all. They were unfair in their courts of law and didn’t defend the fatherless or the poor. The prophets were false ones and prophesied lies. The priests didn’t rule according to God’s laws but according to their own. God gave a warning for his covenant people to flee for safety even though he knew no one would listen. As for Jerusalem, she had to be punished.
In Colossians, Paul tells them of two mysteries. The first is that Christ is in us and this is the hope of glory. The other is the mystery of God which is Christ himself. Christ was God on earth and in him was hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
God is very serious about right and fair judgments. Even our Proverbs talks about the importance of judging impartially and it even says that it will go well with you if you convict the guilty.
One verse gives us a clear picture of what is going on in the land. “I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.” God did everything to bless them yet they were totally unfaithful to him. They never thought God would actually call them to account for their sins but God did. God was going to bring a foreign nation against them that would not speak their language but be ruthless warriors.
Isaiah listed some of their offenses. They forgot that God had created them and the earth and was over all. They were unfair in their courts of law and didn’t defend the fatherless or the poor. The prophets were false ones and prophesied lies. The priests didn’t rule according to God’s laws but according to their own. God gave a warning for his covenant people to flee for safety even though he knew no one would listen. As for Jerusalem, she had to be punished.
In Colossians, Paul tells them of two mysteries. The first is that Christ is in us and this is the hope of glory. The other is the mystery of God which is Christ himself. Christ was God on earth and in him was hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
God is very serious about right and fair judgments. Even our Proverbs talks about the importance of judging impartially and it even says that it will go well with you if you convict the guilty.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Thurs.’s Devo - God is Faithful
Read: Jeremiah 3:1-4:31; Colossians 1:1-20; Psalm 76:1-12; Proverbs 24:21-22
God relates Israel and Judah to unfaithful wives who he divorced and sent away. In God’s great mercy, he called them back to him and told him that he would not be angry forever. He wanted to heal their backsliding if they would let him. God was giving them plenty of warning because if they didn’t return to him, he was going to bring great destruction. A destroyer would come and cleanse the land of the people who refused to repent. It would be so bad that the heart of the king would faint from fear and even the priests and the prophets would be shocked and amazed. The whole land would become desolate but God would not totally destroy it.
The letter to the church at Colossi is so different from the other church letters. Paul addressed them as the faithful brethren and gave them no rebuke, only encouragement in how to keep walking in maturity and love. Paul told them of the mystery of the gospel which is the fact that Christ is in us which makes us the visible manifestation of the glory of God on the earth.
Lord, help us to be faithful to you.
God relates Israel and Judah to unfaithful wives who he divorced and sent away. In God’s great mercy, he called them back to him and told him that he would not be angry forever. He wanted to heal their backsliding if they would let him. God was giving them plenty of warning because if they didn’t return to him, he was going to bring great destruction. A destroyer would come and cleanse the land of the people who refused to repent. It would be so bad that the heart of the king would faint from fear and even the priests and the prophets would be shocked and amazed. The whole land would become desolate but God would not totally destroy it.
The letter to the church at Colossi is so different from the other church letters. Paul addressed them as the faithful brethren and gave them no rebuke, only encouragement in how to keep walking in maturity and love. Paul told them of the mystery of the gospel which is the fact that Christ is in us which makes us the visible manifestation of the glory of God on the earth.
Lord, help us to be faithful to you.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Wed.’s Devo - Turn Back
Read: Jeremiah 1:1-2:30; Philippians 4:1-23; Psalm 75:1-10; Proverbs 24:17-20
God spoke against the rebellious people of Judah. They had complained about Israel’s idolatry and now they had invited idolatry into their land. They went after evil and chose it blatantly. They had repented with their mouths during the reign of Josiah but now God was calling them to make an account of their actions.
God sent Isaiah to Israel to tell them to repent and turn back to him because he wanted to heal them. God had given Israel a certificate of divorcement but he was calling them back to be married to him. All he wanted Israel to do is to acknowledge their guilt and repent.
God dreamed of having sons and daughters that would love him. He had so much in store for them: a desirable land and the most beautiful inheritance of any nation. He thought they would call him “Father”, but instead they were unfaithful. Still, God called out to them to come home.
Because they refused to listen, disaster and judgement was coming. It was going to hurt God more than them.
In Colossi, Paul writes a letter of grace and peace. He is so proud of them and their love for one another and because of their faith in Jesus. Paul’s prayer for them is that they be filled with revelation of what God has in store for them and that they may bear fruit in all their works. He prays that they would grow in their knowledge of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Then Paul gets caught up in worship of God from verse 15-20. It is a great prayer or praise to our Father who through Jesus has made a way that we may have peace with God.
Lord, your judgements are right and holy. May we repent as your people and as your nation and turn to you with our whole heart.
God spoke against the rebellious people of Judah. They had complained about Israel’s idolatry and now they had invited idolatry into their land. They went after evil and chose it blatantly. They had repented with their mouths during the reign of Josiah but now God was calling them to make an account of their actions.
God sent Isaiah to Israel to tell them to repent and turn back to him because he wanted to heal them. God had given Israel a certificate of divorcement but he was calling them back to be married to him. All he wanted Israel to do is to acknowledge their guilt and repent.
God dreamed of having sons and daughters that would love him. He had so much in store for them: a desirable land and the most beautiful inheritance of any nation. He thought they would call him “Father”, but instead they were unfaithful. Still, God called out to them to come home.
Because they refused to listen, disaster and judgement was coming. It was going to hurt God more than them.
In Colossi, Paul writes a letter of grace and peace. He is so proud of them and their love for one another and because of their faith in Jesus. Paul’s prayer for them is that they be filled with revelation of what God has in store for them and that they may bear fruit in all their works. He prays that they would grow in their knowledge of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Then Paul gets caught up in worship of God from verse 15-20. It is a great prayer or praise to our Father who through Jesus has made a way that we may have peace with God.
Lord, your judgements are right and holy. May we repent as your people and as your nation and turn to you with our whole heart.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Tues.’s Devo - The New Heaven and the New Earth
Read: Isaiah 66:1-24; Philippians 3:4B-21; Psalm 74:1-23; Proverbs 24:15-16
This is the last chapter of Isaiah which means that it relates to the end of Revelation in the New Testament. God gives his measurement by which he will judge the earth. He will esteem the ones who are humble (depressed, in mind or circumstances, afflicted, lowly, needy, poor) and contrite (maimed or dejected) in spirit and those who fearfully reverence his Word.
But the proud and all their sacrifices will be counted as abominations against them. Since they refused to answer God when he called and wouldn’t listen when he spoke, the thing that they fear the most will happen to them. All the people who hated God’s people will be put to shame and get what they deserve.
Zion, the redeemed of the Lord, will witness the birth of a new nation and all of the promises God has ever given about Israel and God’s chosen people will happen over night. God will gather the people of the nations together to Jerusalem and all will see the glory of the Lord. God will bring his new heavens and new earth. It will be everlasting life to some and death to others.
Paul, in Philippians gives us his pedigree of fleshly honors and then says that they are nothing in comparison to knowing Christ. He reminds us of the end of the ungodly and earthly, but our citizenship is in heaven.
Lord, help us to live today remembering that our citizenship is in heaven and not on this earth.
This is the last chapter of Isaiah which means that it relates to the end of Revelation in the New Testament. God gives his measurement by which he will judge the earth. He will esteem the ones who are humble (depressed, in mind or circumstances, afflicted, lowly, needy, poor) and contrite (maimed or dejected) in spirit and those who fearfully reverence his Word.
But the proud and all their sacrifices will be counted as abominations against them. Since they refused to answer God when he called and wouldn’t listen when he spoke, the thing that they fear the most will happen to them. All the people who hated God’s people will be put to shame and get what they deserve.
Zion, the redeemed of the Lord, will witness the birth of a new nation and all of the promises God has ever given about Israel and God’s chosen people will happen over night. God will gather the people of the nations together to Jerusalem and all will see the glory of the Lord. God will bring his new heavens and new earth. It will be everlasting life to some and death to others.
Paul, in Philippians gives us his pedigree of fleshly honors and then says that they are nothing in comparison to knowing Christ. He reminds us of the end of the ungodly and earthly, but our citizenship is in heaven.
Lord, help us to live today remembering that our citizenship is in heaven and not on this earth.
Monday, October 1, 2018
Mon.’s Devo - A Righteous Generation
Read: Isaiah 62:6-65:25; Philippians 2:19-3:4A; Psalm 73:1-28; Proverbs 24:13-14
The “watchmen upon the walls” were symbolic of prophets. God was saying that he was not going to let them stop prophesying until everything God wanted to do, got done. Prophets speak into what God wants manifested on the earth. They give the destiny of God’s plan.
God said that he was not going to bless the enemies of God’s people anymore. God was going to lift up his standard in the earth and judge the wicked. What God was going to do then is what He is doing now because he has decided that it is time. It is not our righteousness that is causing this to happen but his timing and determination to bring a change to the earth.
In Isaiah, God was coming to judge the earth and tread the winepress. There was no righteous remnant so God had to do it himself. God had chosen Abraham because he saw a righteous seed, but the seed had become so corrupt he was now going to judge it. Isaiah begged the Lord to come down and render a verdict on the earth. He stood up for the remnant and prayed repentance and mercy. He saw the state of Jerusalem and lamented at its condition. The state of Israel was a picture of Israel’s heart.
In Isaiah 65:1 God spoke of the Gentile nation that would seek him when Israel rejected him. God suffered long for Israel only to have them turn to other gods. He rejected that generation but promised to preserve a small seed that would one day return to him and he would be able to bless and see his promises fulfilled through.
In Philippians, Paul said that he never tires of helping them grow in their faith, even if he had to tell them the same thing over and over. He summed up all he had said in the past in a few statements: rejoice in the Lord (praise is always a good thing to do), beware of the devil and the people he used to bring division and be humble.
It is God who does anything worthwhile in our lives. We owe him all the glory and honor.
Lord, help us to be a righteous generation that would please you and bring you joy.
The “watchmen upon the walls” were symbolic of prophets. God was saying that he was not going to let them stop prophesying until everything God wanted to do, got done. Prophets speak into what God wants manifested on the earth. They give the destiny of God’s plan.
God said that he was not going to bless the enemies of God’s people anymore. God was going to lift up his standard in the earth and judge the wicked. What God was going to do then is what He is doing now because he has decided that it is time. It is not our righteousness that is causing this to happen but his timing and determination to bring a change to the earth.
In Isaiah, God was coming to judge the earth and tread the winepress. There was no righteous remnant so God had to do it himself. God had chosen Abraham because he saw a righteous seed, but the seed had become so corrupt he was now going to judge it. Isaiah begged the Lord to come down and render a verdict on the earth. He stood up for the remnant and prayed repentance and mercy. He saw the state of Jerusalem and lamented at its condition. The state of Israel was a picture of Israel’s heart.
In Isaiah 65:1 God spoke of the Gentile nation that would seek him when Israel rejected him. God suffered long for Israel only to have them turn to other gods. He rejected that generation but promised to preserve a small seed that would one day return to him and he would be able to bless and see his promises fulfilled through.
In Philippians, Paul said that he never tires of helping them grow in their faith, even if he had to tell them the same thing over and over. He summed up all he had said in the past in a few statements: rejoice in the Lord (praise is always a good thing to do), beware of the devil and the people he used to bring division and be humble.
It is God who does anything worthwhile in our lives. We owe him all the glory and honor.
Lord, help us to be a righteous generation that would please you and bring you joy.
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