DATE WRITTEN: Thursday, 2020-07-02
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Isaiah 29:13-14
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹³ The Lord says, “These people come to honor me with words, but I am not really important to them. The worship they give me is nothing but human rules they have memorized. ¹⁴ So I will continue to amaze them by doing powerful and amazing things. Their wise men will lose their wisdom. Even the most intelligent among them will not be able to understand.”

OBSERVATION: We hear it all too often from pastors that we, the members, appear to be bumps on a log as we sit before them preaching their hearts out, as filled with the awesome power of the Almighty God. Too often we are also guilty of taking our worship time way too lightly, whether it’s our daily worship experience with our Maker, or whether it’s through our deliberate efforts to attend corporate worship times. So as I read this Scripture, God forced me to ponder how sincere I am in my relationship with Him. I may fool my pastor, and I may think I could look good in the eyes of God, but no word, deed or thought escapes the One true God. Let’s get honest before Him today.

APPLICATION: I have really been enjoying the prophecies according to Isaiah! Being a part of God’s Word for all generations, I know that Isaiah’s prophecy and eye-opening declaration to us, comes directly from God, so it is of utmost importance that we pay close attention to what Isaiah is challenging us with today also. God saw that much of what Isaiah was dealing with in his day, revolved around a broken system – one where leaders were misguided because of following their own desires, wants and popularity. However, I was stopped in my track, because I realized that the God that you and I serve today, is still the one same God. I don’t know about you my friend, but I am convinced that our churches today are still polluted with folk just like Isaiah faced in his day. I believe that these words from the Almighty God, are just as applicable and meant for us today. We show up for church, but are we ready to acknowledge God and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth? I believe that means that we are prepared to worship God as if we are the only one in the sanctuary. I also believe that our daily worship times would enrich our spirit of worship when we gather for corporate worship. Do you feel like your heart and soul is better prepared to look full into His wonderful face and acknowledge Him as Lord, because of your daily experiences together with the Lord? I was also amazed by the consequences that God said He would pour out on His people, especially the smartest and most elegant leaders. I don’t know that there has been a time ever before in history when church leaders were brought to their knees begging for wisdom and understanding on how to move forward with the ministry that God has set before them. I’m not saying that God has dumbfounded our church leaders, but we are not God, and He has not enlightened us as to why we are going through the tough times that are currently before us. What I could see from this Scripture though, is that God used Isaiah to warn His people that unless we change our self serving attitudes, and instead recognize the awesome power of the One True God, and in doing so – follow through in sincere dedication to Him and in deliberate worship to Him, THEN consequences will follow until we humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, pray, and acknowledge Him as Lord, and worship only Him. This was important enough that God directed us towards this in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Dear ones, there are many more warnings given in the Word of God to those who are called by His name; the greatest is that one day soon, Jesus will return to earth to take His bride home to glory! Part of our reckoning to our Master on that Day, will no doubt be accounting for our sincerity to the King while here on earth. What will that look like for you? Are you prepared to respond to the all-knowing God of this universe, even today? We don’t know the day of His return, so let me encourage you to seriously consider the Scriptures today and my challenging questions above, so that You could be prepared if Jesus came today.

PRAYER: Precious Lord, I am anxious for your return, because I look forward to the joys of Heaven and being at peace at the feet of my Master. I believe there are many of my readers who would echo that same desire today, because you’re the reason we live and look forward to being with some sweet day. But You have given us much to think about today. Please Lord, awaken our minds so that we might be drawn to You in all sincerity, and that we may live in accordance with all the ways You have taught us. Help us Lord to get over ourselves, and as we look fully into Your wonderful face, may we be reminded of the One we represent, and may we never disappoint You in the level of our commitment to be just like You to a lost and dying world. People still need the Lord. Oh that they may see You just as You are, when they come into contact with Your representatives – Your children – Your saints – my fellow Christians and myself. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!