Read the Bible in a Year (07AUG19)

DAILY REMINDER – Today, August 7’s Bible reading is Isaiah 45-48.

NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, August 8’s Bible reading is Isaiah 49-53. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD.

ISAIAH MOMENT – (07AUG19) “This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his anointed one, whose right hand he will empower. Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear. Their fortress gates will be opened, never to shut again. This is what the Lord says: ‘I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron’ ” (Isaiah 45:1-2). It had been established by God that the nation of Israel and Judah would go into captivity because of their rebellion against Him. They would be conquered by the Babylonians and enslaved for seventy years. After which, God would rescue them by allowing the Medes and Persians to conquer their enemies under the leadership of King Cyrus. This prophecy was given to Isaiah almost 200 years prior to its fulfillment. King Cyrus had yet to be born when this prophecy was given. God, however, wanted Israel to know that He was going to raise up such a leader who would not even know nor recognize Him as God, but would be used to free them from Babylon. God’s hand would be with Cyrus, and He would allow for him to conquer nations until His will was manifested.

Some of the people questioned God as to why a heathen would be the one to accomplish and fulfill this prophecy, but God had a response for such questions. “This is what the Lord says—the Holy One of Israel and our Creator: ‘Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands? I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands I stretched out the heavens. All the stars are at my command. I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose, and I will guide his actions. He will restore my city and free my captive people—without seeking a reward! I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!’ ” (Isaiah 45:11-13). The Lord was letting the people know that He could use whatever and whomever He wanted to rescue His people. It was not for them to say who should be used and for what purpose. God is the One who is the Maker of all people, so it is up to Him to use whomever He wants as His chosen vessel.

Many Christians make the mistake of trying to decide who can be used by God if the person does not come in a pretty package. For example, President Donald Trump, although far from perfect, was chosen by God to lead this nation. Rather one likes him or not, he is the leader whom God placed in office for this particular time in America. The Bible says, “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning” (Daniel 2:21). President Trump, on all accounts, should not have been president because he had no political experience, while many in the mainstream media, actors and actresses, as well as former President Obama, laughed at the idea of this business man ever succeeding him to the White House. Yet, GOD’S WILL was established. This is not to call President Trump a “Cyrus” as many Christians and Jews have labeled him. This is only to say that God allowed for Him to be in office to accomplish His will on earth that is leading us into the end of all things. President Trump is NOT our Savior nor will he ever be. But He was chosen by God to lead for now, and we are to pray for our leaders even if and when we do not always agree with them. The Apostle Paul wrote, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

God has always used the least likely to do great things in the earth. He still chooses the less than favorable in man’s view today to accomplish kingdom things. The very person that man may discount may be the one that God has chosen for His divine purpose. God had this to say to the Prophet Samuel, “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart’ "(1 Samuel 16:7). When selecting a king for Israel, Samuel looked at Jesse’s sons and thought that each one looked like he could be king, but the Lord was digging underneath the surface. He knew that David would have a heart for Him. Unlike David, Cyrus was not a man of God and yet, he was chosen. Trump may or may not be a man of God and yet, God chose him. We were not once for God and yet, He chose us. Let us pray for each other rather in authority or not, so that all who come to Christ will be saved and do His divine will. Something to ponder…

QUESTION OF THE DAY - (07AUG19) How easy is it for us to have a hard head and want to do our own thing apart from Christ? The enemy wants us to have the old Burger King slogan, “Have it your way.” Yes, he wants us to forsake God and do what is wise in our own eyes. Yet, the Word of God warns against this. The Bible says, “This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.  Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea” (Isaiah 48:17-18). The Lord was warning Israel that He wanted to lead them in the right direction for their lives, then they would have experienced true peace. Unfortunately, they did not heed His warning and suffered greatly because they wanted to have it their way. They considered it to be a burden to follow the Lord’s decrees; therefore, their decision of rebellion had great consequences for the nation at large. They were taken into captivity where they would learn what it meant to obey their enemies who cared nothing for them nor had mercy upon them.

We oftentimes have a similar mindset as Israel of old. God has given to us His decrees and we have the stories in the Bible to show us the mistakes, trials, and triumphs of those in times’ past. Yet we sometimes choose to do things our own way. One day, many who made the decision to follow such a course will see that it will have led them to their own destruction. The Bible says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12). Let us be ever so careful to allow the Lord to lead us, so that we can ensure that we stay on the right path that leads to eternal life. Something to ponder….

ISAIAH MOMENT – (07AUG19) “Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:9). Babylon was going to one day come under the judgment of the Lord because of their failure to recognize Him as God. They worshiped their false deity of Bel and Nebo. King Nebuchadnezzar was so named for their heathen god Nebo who was said to be the son of Bel (Baal). The Lord wanted them to know that He was the only true God and that if they refused to honor Him and give Him glory, that He was going to take away their vain glory upon the earth. Modern-day Babylon will see the same fate as that of old along with her false gods and Babylonian system.

The Bible says, “Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.  I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word:
Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to me” (Isaiah 45:22-23). God is still pleading with the nations to turn to Him for their salvation. He wants them to see that they can be nothing without Him regardless of their best attempts at science, artificial intelligence, plans to go to Mars, peace plans, and failed monetary systems. His Word is the only thing that is true and all who deny Him now, will one day bow before Him. Yet, many reject Him, and want nothing to do with His prophets and true teachers of the Word. Therefore, the Lord is lifting His hands off of the nations and we will see more shootings, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, crop failures, wars, tornadoes, hurricanes, sink holes, suicides, and more. We can take away the guns, but man’s heart will not change. We can add more police security, but there is no security except for the Lord. We can sign peace treaties, but there is no peace without the Prince of Peace. We can give reparations for slavery, but the heart of man will stay enslaved until total surrender is given to Christ. There is no way except THE WAY through Christ Jesus our Lord. “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Something to ponder….