New Testament Reading: Mark 12
Psalms Reading: 81
*Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 45-46
“For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the Lord, and there is no other.” –Isaiah 45:18 (ESV)
Isaiah 45 begins, “Thus says the LORD…”. This is repeated in verses 11, 14, & 18. This phrase speaks of confidence and certainty; God has spoken and He only says what is true. In verses 6, 18, 21, & 22 God says, “I am the LORD, and there is no other”. In this chapter of Isaiah God speaks and He tells us how all-powerful He is and that there is none like Him.
In chapter 46, verse 5 God asks the question, “To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? He speaks of the worthlessness of idols and then says, in verses 8-11, Remember this and stand firm… for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me… declaring the end from the beginning… My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose… I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
There just aren’t words big enough to describe our awe of God. I checked the thesaurus: awesome, incredible, spectacular, astonishing, stunning, amazing, magnificent, wondrous, majestic. Our God, my God, your God, speaks to us and will accomplish what He says he will do. He has a purpose and He will complete it. We can rely on that without doubt. I encourage you to take some time and read some of God’s promises and bask in the fact that each one already has or will happen. You can start with Isaiah 45:22-23 “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance”
These chapters fill me with hope and confidence in our almighty God. Let me leave you with a beautiful image from Isaiah 45:8 “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the Lord have created it.”
Amy Blanchard
- Since there aren’t any words that can adequately describe God – His power, His supremeness, how absolutely we can trust him – sit for a minute (preferably longer) and feel. I know that sounds odd, but try it.
- God speaking for two chapters on how He is the greatest and only perfect One and how He WILL succeed gives me chills. I like action movies – you know, the ones where the good guys win (American movies). There is always a specific moment, whether it’s a line, a visual cue, or the background music changes when you know “it’s done”, the good guys are going to win. Picture the “cavalry coming over the hill” scene in so many movies. One is in Avengers: Endgame (spoiler alert). Just when Captain America is about to be defeated and overtaken by a huge army The Avengers assemble. They rescue him and save the world. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pFUP0HZwWM) When these scenes happen, you feel something – relief, power, joy. What do you feel when you read some of the passages from today’s chapters in Isaiah? (And just for fun – what are some of the differences between the Avengers scene and this passage in Isaiah?)
- God created all of our emotions. Thank Him for them. What are you feeling today?
Seek Grow Love 