DATE POSTED: Saturday, May 18, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE New Living Translation (NLT) IS FOUND IN Isaiah 49:25-26
THE BIBLE TEXT IS: But the Lord says …. For I will fight those who fight you, and I will save your children. I will feed your enemies with their own flesh. They will be drunk with rivers of their own blood. All the world will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.”
APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Have you ever stood by in amazement while someone you just met for the first time tries to figure out if the lady walking around with you is actually your wife? Or perhaps the boy that you are explaining everything to, is your son? What if everyone tried to size you up on whether you’re a Christian, or not? Would they have a hard time figuring that out? In this intriguing chapter of Isaiah, God had started introducing His Son that would come to save the world. His audience were only used to their one-on-one battles where one of the armies would be decimated, or turned away in defeat, while the other stood victorious. But in verse 25 we are seeing where God said He would fight their battles for them. Think about it, God ordered that His people, the Israelites, should be rescued from slavery in Egypt and return to their homeland. Although immense in numbers, these people were hardworking and used to manual labor, but they were slaves of Herod, the king of Egypt. They were no match for the power and might of the Egyptians, so of course they questioned how they could possibly get away from the Egyptians, survive in a harsh desert for many years, and then find a place to call home again, even though it was a land that they left many years ago. But unlike what they saw as possible in their human minds, God had a plan that only He could complete. Miracle after miracle in providing food, water, protection and direction, should have been more than enough to prove His omniscience and His power, but this was a stubborn and hard bunch to reach. We still have people like this today that we come into contact with. Perhaps neighbors, or church attenders, or coworkers, or students. But do they see enough of Jesus in ‘Christians’ today to conclude in their minds about His existence, His power, His willingness to help us through our struggles, and His plan for us after this challenging world has completed it’s pick on us? Dear friends, I have no doubt that God says the same thing to us today as He did in assuring the Israelites of His character and power: I will fight those who fight you; I will protect your children; I will attend to your enemies by repaying them harshly for what they have done to you; THEN you, and all those who know you, will know that I indeed am the God of this universe; your Savior; your Lord; your Redeemer; your everlasting Father, who has prepared an eternal home for you where you will live forever with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But child of God, do those around you know and see all this based on your relationship with Jesus Christ? Do they see it lived out in your home? Is it obvious in your character; your work ethics; your relationship with others and in your church? Many will meet Jesus because of what they see in, and experience with you. Oh that they will see Jesus, high and lifted up!
PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Nothing on earth compares with You Lord, so I thank You for setting such high standards for us. We could never be You, but I pray that You will give us boldness and a deep desire to learn as much as we could about Your character, that we will reflect You, and reflect You in every aspect of our lives. We have nothing to brag about in our self-worth, but when we invite You to live inside of us, You are everything that the world needs. Please bless us oh Lord, so that we may be a blessing to others and Your name glorified in every aspect of our lives. AMEN!
FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!