Moments With God

Isaiah 51:1-16

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn." (Isaiah 51:1)

There are many things going on in this world which could cause us to succumb to fear. This Scripture passage in Isaiah 51 offers comfort when we feel we are becoming entangled in the tentacles of fear. A child of God need not and must not be controlled by fear. When we begin to fear anything or anyone, we must quickly run to the Lord for comfort and protection. The Lord in His sovereignty already has our lives all planned, so we need not fear.

When we begin to sink into despair or fear for any reason; the Lord says to us, "Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut." (Isaiah 51:1a) We, who are the Lord's children and are seeking to live for Him, can look to Jesus, our rock and foundation. Jesus Christ is "the rock" from which you and I "were cut." Jesus is the rock which we need to turn to in times of great fear. The Lord Jesus gives our lives a sure foundation even in times of uncertainty and fear.

Verse two of Isaiah 51 also suggests that we can follow the examples of the Biblical heroes of faith for inspiration in our own walk of faith. Hebrews 11 gives a wonderful account of many of these Biblical heroes of faith. Furthermore, we can emulate the examples of people in our current life who are walking in faith without fear and with a sure confidence in their Lord. These people are all links in the chain of faith, and they can be an inspiration to us.

Isaiah 51:3a says that "the Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord." Zion was a name for God's people in Isaiah's day. The Lord will comfort His people when they go through fearful or difficult situations. He will turn the "ruins" and "deserts" of our lives into blessings. A believer in the Lord Jesus Christ will proceed from victory to victory. No ultimate spiritual harm can ever come to a child of God. Even if we die we will immediately go to be with the Lord. What have we to fear? Therefore, Isaiah 51:3b goes on to say, "Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing." Among God's people there need not be crippling fear, but rather joy, thanksgiving, and singing!

As children of God we need not fear, because the Lord is a just and righteous God. God says in Isaiah 51:6 that the heavens and earth will vanish someday. But then in that same verse the Lord goes on to say, "But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail." We need to fear nothing, because our righteous and faithful God is always with us to comfort and protect us. The Lord says to us, "I, even I, am He who comforts you." (Isaiah 51:12a) With the Lord on our side we need to never retreat or cower in fear. The Lord can diffuse any situation that we consider to be potentially dangerous or fearful! The great God of the universe says to us, His children, "For I am the Lord your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves roar-the Lord Almighty is His name." (Isaiah 51:15) The great Lord of the universe personally cares about and loves us! He knows us by name. He knows everything about us. He has our entire futures planned out moment by moment! He will always give comfort and strength enough for every difficult and fearful situation in our lives! Praise His name! Let's rest our lives in Him in joy and thanksgiving and not in fear! "If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31b)

Isaiah 50

Isaiah 50:10b, "Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God."

Are we willing to persevere in our faith and follow the Lord in obedience no matter what the cost? In our Scripture passage today the prophet, Isaiah, is going through a difficult time in his life. Isaiah's fellow country men have rejected the Lord and have followed their own sinful ways. They have done this in spite of God's faithfulness to them in the past. Isaiah, however, has decided to serve the Lord in total obedience no matter what the cost.

Isaiah says in Isaiah 50:5, "He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back," Isaiah realizes that it is the Lord who wakens him each morning and gives him another day to serve the Lord. Isaiah is also ready and willing to listen for God's voice. He is willing to be taught by the Lord. Are we also willing to be quiet long enough to hear what the Lord is trying to say to us? Are we willing to suffer even deep trials so that we can learn all the truths that the Lord God wishes to teach us about Himself and His promises? Verses six and seven of Isaiah 50 suggests that even though Isaiah is going through some difficult times in his life, he is willing with the Lord's help to learn what God has to teach him during these difficult times. With God's help Isaiah is willing to persevere in his faith. Isaiah says in Isaiah 50:7-8, "Because the sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know I will not be put to shame." Isaiah further expresses a similar sentiment to that which is expressed by Paul in Romans 8:31-39 when he says, "It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who is he that will condemn me?" (Isaiah 50:9) We too as His children can have the assurance that absolutely no one or no circumstance can ever "separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:39b)

When we walk through the dark places of this world's trials, we can trust and rely on the Lord as did Isaiah. Isaiah instructs us in Isaiah 50:10b, "Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God." Instead of saying, "Why God?" when trials hit our lives; we must rest our lives in the Lord. In such times God says to us, "Trust me. Someday you will see the reason for the deep and dark trials you are experiencing. You will see that I was with you all the way. You will someday understand that I was using these difficult times to perfect you and make you more like Me." When difficult times come into our lives, it is a real temptation to seek our own devices and methods to "fix" our problems. This will only lead to disaster. (Isaiah 50:11) Instead we must "trust in the name of the Lord" and rely on Him. We must trust Him because of all He is in His character, and we must trust Him because of His wonderful promises to us in His Holy Word.

Isaiah 46

There are times in life when we are hit with unexpected and unpleasant events and circumstances. Isaiah 46 is a wonderful passage to read when we are facing a crisis or an uncertain future. In this chapter in Isaiah God is talking to His special Old Testament people, the Israelites. We can also apply these same words to our own lives as His children today. This chapter in Isaiah tells us that God is the only true God. The chapter also demonstrates the foolishness of relying on anything or anyone but the Lord in facing life’s challenges.

Babylon was Israel’s enemy in Old Testament times. Isaiah told Israel at the time of the writing of this book that some day Babylon’s false deities were going to be carried off into captivity. These false deities would fall and fail. Not so the Lord! In Isaiah 46:3 the Lord told Israel that He had carried Israel since her birth. He has also carried us, His children today, since our birth! Our Lord will never fail us!

The Lord said to Israel and the Lord says to us today, "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." (Isaiah 46:4) The writer of this devotional is old enough to have a few gray hairs. Looking back on her life she can see that the Lord has indeed always sustained her and carried her through both difficult and pleasant times. He has also rescued her in times of crisis. When one is a bit older one begins to gain some perspective on the Lord’s faithfulness. One has seen the Lord’s faithfulness in the past. Hence, it is a bit easier to begin to have greater trust in His faithfulness for the future.

In verse five of Isaiah 46 the Lord goes on to say, "To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?" These are rhetorical questions on the Lord’s part. There is no God, but our true God. No one or no other resource can be compared to Him in terms of His power, glory, sovereignty, mercy, or love. If we trust in anyone or any resource in this life other than the Lord for our ultimate protection and well-being, we are sinning. We are then making that person or resource our idol. The Lord God alone must be our first love and passion. He alone must be the One to whom we turn for protection and help. He alone is our help, our salvation, and our hope in this life and for eternity.

Read verses eight through eleven of Isaiah 46, and let the words flow through your spirit. Revel and find joy in their words of comfort to you. The Lord says to you, "Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart---I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.----What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do."

Our sovereign God is in control of the seeming uncertainties in this world. He is in sovereign control of our lives as His children. He is watching over us and protecting us in His goodness. He has every detail of our lives in His sovereign will and plan. He knows our beginning from our end on this earth and has an eternal future for us with Him. His purpose for us will stand. When we truly believe and begin to comprehend the glory of that concept there is no room for fear, worry, or panic even in times of crisis!

Isaiah 43

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One---, your Savior;---you are precious and honored in my sight." (Isaiah 43:1b-4a)

One can find wonderful promises in God’s Word where one least expects it. Isaiah 43 is one example of this. In this passage God is making some wonderful promises to the people of Israel. We can apply these same promises to our lives as His people today! This chapter of Isaiah tells us that the Lord formed us, created us, and redeemed us; so as His children we need not fear! We need to ask the Lord’s help to never fear but to always trust Him. He chose us to serve Him as His children!

Isaiah 43 tells us that the Lord calls us and knows us each by name! We can replace all of our fears with the Lord’s joy and peace, because He gives us the right to a personal relationship with Him! He says to you and to all His children, "I have summoned you by name; you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1b) What is even more wonderful is that He gives us His name! We are part of His family! As His children we belong to the Lord!

The Lord also promises that He will always be with us. When we "pass through the rivers" of life's difficulties they will not sweep over us. When we "walk through the fire" we "will not be burned." (Isaiah 43:2) We will always have difficulties in this life. That is inevitable. But the Lord will be with us protecting us and guiding us all the way! As His children we are "precious and honored" in His sight, and He loves us! (Isaiah 43:4) We need not be afraid of anything, because He is always with us. In fact, His command to us is "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." (Isaiah 43:5)

When you or I are feeling overwhelmed with life’s struggles we can cry to the Lord, and He will see us through those troubles! The waters of life and the fires of life can not overwhelm us as His children! The waters and fires of life are under His control, so we need not fear. He will be with us and give us His strength, as we pass through them. The Lord will not give us His extra strength ahead of time, but He will give us His extra sustaining strength at just the right time when we are going through our deepest trials. He called us by name and created us for a purpose. God's purpose for us is that we live for His glory! We are His servants whom He has chosen to serve Him! We have been chosen to know the Lord, believe on Him, and understand that He is God! Most of the world does not understand this; but as His children He is our Savior, our God, and our hope forever! No one can change what He has determined! No one can deliver us out of His hand! He is our Redeemer, Lord, Creator, and King! He has done great things for us in the past, and He will do great things for us in the future. He does new things for us each day! The longer the writer of this devotional walks with the Lord the more she sees how He is always faithful. He is always faithful to us even when we can’t understand what is going on in our lives. He makes a way for us in the deserts of life. He does this, because He formed you and me for Himself that we might bring glory to His name!

Isaiah 40:27-31

Do you ever feel discouraged and want to give up? Do you ever feel that a task or trial that the Lord has given you is too much to handle? Do you ever wrongly feel as if you are all alone in handling a challenge in your life? God's Old Testament people in Isaiah's day felt that way. God's people at that time were saying, "My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God." ( Isaiah 40:27b)

When we begin to feel this way in our lives we must recall God's promises in His Holy Word to always be with us and to always strengthen us. Isaiah 40:28 says, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom." The Lord is a great and powerful God; and this great God of the universe chooses to give His enabling strength to us, His children! "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40:29) The key to endurance in this life is not our own strength, for "even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall." (Isaiah 40:30) The key to endurance in this life is the Lord's strength in our lives. His supply of strength for us is limitless and is always readily available!

The way we avail ourselves of the Lord's strength is by putting our total trust expectantly in the Lord. We must not seek to run ahead of the Lord or try to seek out our own fallible resources. We need to wait on the Lord for His strength with the absolute confidence that He will give His strength to us. We might go into the Lord's presence in prayer weary, tired, and discouraged. We can leave the Lord's presence in prayer strengthened and refreshed! "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31) As we wait on the Lord and trust Him, our strength for facing life's challenges are renewed and invigorated! This happens when we begin exchanging our finite weakness for the Lord's infinite strength. Then like the eagles, who are known for their vigor, we will be able to fly or rise above the challenges of this life. This kind of strength is found only in the Lord, but in the Lord's strength we can "run and not grow weary." The Lord is our strength!

Isaiah 6:1-8

"‘Woe to me!' I cried, ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.’ Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’" Isaiah 6:5-8

Isaiah was a prophet in the Old Testament times of the Bible. In this chapter of the Bible Isaiah was in the temple. Suddenly Isaiah had a vision from God. Isaiah was suddenly able to see beyond the limits of his ordinary understanding and eyesight. God allowed Isaiah to see the Lord God in all His holiness. Isaiah saw God in all His greatness, power, sovereignty, glory, and holiness.

Isaiah also saw angels in his vision in the temple. These angels had six wings. With two of their wings these angels covered their faces. This showed the glory and supremacy of God. With two of their wings these angels covered their feet. This showed their humility before the Lord God. Finally, with two wings these angels were flying. This showed their obedience to the Lord in all things. We also need to stand in awe and bow in humility before God’s glory and holiness. We also need a willing and obedient spirit in all things.

The angels were singing "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory." (Isaiah 6:3b) The Lord is infinitely holy. He is majestic and sovereign, and the whole earth is filled with His glory! The Lord’s power is seen all around us in our world. It is seen in how the Lord controls creation and in how He controls the nations.

When Isaiah saw all these things in his vision he realized the depths of his unworthiness and sin. He said in response, "Woe to me!" (Isaiah 6:5a) You and I are also naked in our sins before a holy God. We like to compare ourselves with others sometimes, and we like to imagine ourselves as good and decent people. The more we realize God’s holiness, however, the more we realize our sinfulness and unworthiness.

Isaiah was overcome with an awareness of God’s holiness and an awareness of his own sin and unworthiness. But God then said to him, "your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." (Isaiah 6:7b) You and I also deserve hell and God’s condemnation. Praise God, however, that He chose us to be His children! Praise God that He cleansed us from our sins through the blood of Jesus on the cross! The Lord says to you and me as He said to Isaiah long ago, "your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

Then the drama of Isaiah's vision unfolded one more step. God said to Isaiah, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" Isaiah’s response was "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8) In light of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for our sins on the cross for us we need to live our lives in eternal gratitude to Him. We need to be passionate about our desire for an ever growing personal relationship with the Lord. We need to be passionate about our desire to serve Him. We need to submissively obey the Lord in all things. We need to be willing to go where He wants us to go and do what He wants us to do. We must be a willing servant for Him wherever He has placed us in our small corner of this world. We must seek to bring Him glory in all areas of our lives! We must pursue practical holiness in our lives. How can we do anything else in light of what He has done for us?

II Corinthians 12

Recently I read an article by a person who believes it is always God's will to heal every believer's sicknesses, if he or she has enough faith and prays. Is this a Biblical view, however? Is it always God's will to heal us from all our diseases? The answer to that question is yes and no. Ultimately, all of us who love the Lord Jesus and are His children will experience complete healing from all pain and sickness when we reach our eternal home. Revelation 21:4 says of that time, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." What a blessed promise! On this earth, however, we will often continue to experience pain, suffering, and even sickness.

In II Corinthians 12 the apostle Paul speaks of a "thorn" in his flesh. Paul calls this "thorn" in his flesh "a messenger from Satan to torment me." (II Corinthians 12:7b) Apparently this "thorn" in the flesh that Paul experienced was a severe physical affliction of some kind. The precise nature of Paul's severe affliction is unknown. In II Corinthians 12 the apostle Paul pleads with God in prayer three times to have his "thorn" in his flesh removed. God, however, said, "No" to Paul's request for healing. Instead God said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness" (II Corinthians 12:9) Sometimes in the mystery of God's perfect plan and will God is glorified by Christians NOT being healed from all our sicknesses on this earth. This is because it is in difficult times that we depend and lean on the Lord more heavily. It is at times like these that we can also sometimes be used in a more effective way as instruments for God. If we persevere in our faith even when an illness goes on for years, we are showing that we truly belong to the Lord. Also in this way God's power is more clearly seen in us. Paul says in II Corinthians 12:9b-10, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses----For when I am weak, then I am strong." Paul understood that when he felt the weakest he was the strongest, because he was then not relying on his own strength but on the Lord's strength.

This devotional writer knows a married couple from her church who truly exemplify what Paul is talking about in II Corinthians 12. Even though the husband has been ill for years and is unable to work, this couple clings tightly to their faith. They also show a joy and contentment in their faith that is a beautiful reflection of Jesus. They are a spiritual encouragement to my husband and I who are also going through a deep trial.

This does not mean that we should not pray when we are sick or experience other difficult trials. In fact, the Lord commands us to pray for our needs and the needs of others. Also the Lord still heals people today. Sometimes He uses doctors and medical means, and sometimes He heals when all natural hope is gone. Either way it is the Lord who heals. We need to bombard heaven with our prayers even when we think all hope is gone. When the Lord says, "No" to our requests for healing on this earth, however, we must also accept His will in that situation. There are those who say that if you have enough faith you will be healed of all diseases on this earth. The truth of the matter is, however, that sometimes we demonstrate more faith by persevering in the faith even when our prayers are not answered the way we would like them to be answered. We must "run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1b) We must do this even when "the race marked out for us" involves many trials and difficulties. Faith is keeping our eyes fixed "on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2a) We can do this in His power, because He has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5b)

Psalm 51

"Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." Psalm 51:2

Sin is not a popular topic. We do not like to think about the sins that reside in our lives. We can not appreciate the wonder of our salvation in Jesus, however, if we do not realize the gravity of our sins. Also we as redeemed believers can not fight against sin and grow in holiness, if we do not come to an ever greater awareness of the gravity of our sins. In Psalm 51 David expressed a deep sense of the depth and depravity of his sins. David also expressed a profound desire for the Lord's forgiveness from his sins. David said in Psalm 51:1-2, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." David called his grievous sins "transgressions" and "iniquity." David knew he was in desperate need of the Lord's "unfailing love" and "great compassion." David knew his only chance of being restored to a love relationship with the Lord was by having his sins blotted out and washed away. We too need to have a deep sense of our sins. We too must run to the Lord in repentance and for forgiveness from our sins. We too must be washed from our sins by the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God. Jesus Christ needs to wash away our sins and restore us to right relationship with the Lord.

David went on to say in Psalm 51:3-4b, "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight." We often like to excuse and justify our sins, but there is no justification for sin. We must be constantly aware of our sins and realize that every one of our sins is a sin against our Lord God. We must confess those sins like the tax collector in Luke 18:13b. Our prayer must be "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." There must be sorrow for sin, confession of sin to our Lord God, and a turning away from sin. Like David our penitent prayer from our heart must be "Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:7b) Jesus Christ can and does wash away our sins and turns the filthy rags of our sinful lives into white robes of righteousness!

Verse eight of Psalm fifty-one even suggests that unconfessed sin can have physical consequences on our bodies. Our desire and prayer to the Lord should be, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10) Jesus Christ can restore us to a right relationship with Him, if we confess our sins and seek His cleansing with a sincere heart. The Lord will then restore to us the joy of our salvation. Joy in our relationship with the Lord only comes after we confess our sins. After confessing our sins we must also pray for "a willing spirit to sustain" us in our struggle against sin and in our desire to live holy lives. (Psalm 51:12)

The Lord does not desire our empty rituals and sacrifices. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart." (Psalm 51:17) The sacrifice that the Lord desires from us is our grief over our sins. He wants us to run to Him for forgiveness and restoration. Psalm 51:15 suggests that the Lord also desires the sacrifice of our mouths declaring His praises and our thanks for His forgiveness in our lives. The Lord desires the sacrifices of lives totally devoted to Him in thanks for what He has done and continues to do for us! Sin is a grievous thing in our lives. Praise God for His salvation in our lives! Let us live our lives in a sacrifice and service of praise to Him!

John 11:1-44

"Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40

In the midst of the deep trials of life it is very tempting to get caught up in questions like "Why, Lord?" It is also tempting to become bogged down in self-pity and think, "If only my circumstances were different, life would be so much better." Our Lord, however, commands us to trust that He has the perfect plan for our lives. We see but a fragment of the whole. We see but one page in the story of our lives which He has planned for us. Also we are placed on this earth to bring Him glory, and His working in our lives even in times of trial are meant to show forth His glory and honor. In the measure we are submissive to His will we will experience His peace and His contentment.

Mary and Martha in our Scripture passage today were in the midst of one of those deep trials of life. Their brother, Lazarus, had just died. What was even more perplexing to Mary and Martha was that they had sent word to Jesus when Lazarus had become sick, and Jesus had delayed His coming to them. They were struggling with the fact that if only Jesus had come more quickly Jesus could have healed Lazarus. When Jesus did arrive on the scene both Martha and Mary said to Jesus, "Lord, If You had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:21 and 32b) In effect, they were saying, "Lord, You had the power to prevent Lazarus from dying. Why did You not come more quickly? Why did You let Lazarus die?" The Lord controls and allows all the situations and circumstances of our lives even the difficult ones. God in His complete power could have chosen to not send some of the trials He has allowed in our lives. We do not always understand the reason for the heartbreaking circumstances of our lives, but we must trust the Lord. We must rest our lives in His hands. We must not focus on the problems, but we must focus on the Lord and on His loving sovereignty. The trials we undergo in this life are allowed only in the framework of God's carefully controlled environment. They are placed in our lives for our ultimate spiritual good. In the mystery of God's will trials are also placed in our lives so that God's name will be glorified.

When we struggle to understand the circumstances of our lives we need to remember the words of Jesus to Mary and Martha, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40) After saying these words to Mary and Martha Jesus did something amazing! Jesus said, "Lazarus, come out!" (John 11:43b) Suddenly Lazarus who had been dead for four days was alive again! The glory of God was demonstrated in an awesome way that day. The glory of the Lord would not have been demonstrated in this wonderful way, if Lazarus had not died. The Lord also wishes to demonstrate His glory in our lives often through the difficult times in our lives. Can we trust Jesus Christ with all the "if onlys" and "whys" of our lives? Can we trust that He has the better plan? Can we trust that we will some day see the glory of God?

II Chronicles 14-16

." II Chronicles 16:9a 14:11a