ISAIAH 58
False worship verse 1- 2
Cry aloud – spare not – lift up your voice like a trumpet
and show the people their transgression
and the house of Jacob their sins
Yet they seek ME daily – and delight to know MY ways
as a nation that did righteousness
and forsook not the ordinance of their God
they ask of ME the ordinances of justice
they take delight in approaching to God
False fasting verse 3- 4
Wherefore have we FASTED – say they – and YOU see not?
wherefore have we afflicted our soul
and YOU take no knowledge?
BEHOLD in the day of your FAST you find pleasure
and exact all your labors
BEHOLD – you FAST for strife – debate
to smite with the fist of wickedness
you shall not FAST as you do this day
to make your voice to be heard on high
False reason for fasting verse 5- 6
Is it such a FAST that I have chosen?
A day for a man to afflict his soul?
Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush
and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Will you call this a FAST and an acceptable day
to the LORD?
Is not this the FAST that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness
to undo the heavy burdens
and to let the oppressed go free
and that you break every yoke?
Reason for fasting verse 7
Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry
and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house?
when you see the naked – that you cover him
and that you hide not yourself
from your own flesh?
Proper fasting brings blessing verse 8- 12
THEN shall your light break forth as the morning
and your health shall spring forth speedily
and your righteousness shall go before you
the glory of the LORD shall be your rereward
THEN shall you call – the LORD shall answer
you shall cry – HE shall say
Here I am
If you take away from the midst of you the yoke
the putting forth of the finger – and speaking vanity
and if you draw out your soul to the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted soul
THEN shall your light rise in obscurity
and your darkness be as the noonday
AND the LORD shall guide you continually
and satisfy your soul in drought – and make fat your bones
and you shall be like a watered garden
and like a spring of water
whose waters fail not
AND they that shall be of you shall build the old waste places
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations
and you shall be called
The repairer of the breach
The restorer of paths to dwell in
People delight to worship on Sabbath verse 13- 14
If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath
from doing your pleasure on MY holy day
and call Sabbath a delight
the holy of the LORD – honorable
And shall honor HIM – not doing your own ways
nor finding your own pleasure
nor speaking your own words
THEN shall you delight yourself in the LORD
and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth
and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. (2654 “delight” [chaphets] means please, desire, pleasure, to bend down, or be willing.)
DEVOTION: Fakes are around all the time. In the plays of Greece in ancient times there were masks worn to give the idea of a change of character. This is the background for our word “hypocrite.” A hypocrite was someone who faked his actions or beliefs.
Christ called the Pharisees hypocrites because their actions in public were different from their actions in private. They expected people to follow their external actions but not their inner attitude. Their attitude toward Christ was that HE had not come from God. They thought they had a hold on proper beliefs. They had the political power to do what they wanted in the Roman kingdom.
The LORD informs Isaiah that the children of Israel were faking their worship of the LORD. They appeared to be going into the presence of the LORD daily. They sat at the feet of those who taught the Word of God and seemed to enjoy learning about the LORD. They looked righteous. They were trying to obey the ordinances of God. They enjoyed praying in public. All this was fake.
The LORD called them on their false worship. They pretended to fast and prayer to the LORD. The reason for their fasting was to impress the people around them but not to obey the LORD. They thought the LORD would be pleased by their fake fasting because they questioned the LORD as to why HE didn’t honor their fasts.
The LORD replied by stating that they were not fasting for the right reason. They were fasting for show and not to help those around them with their needs.
We face the same problem today. There are many people who look good in public but their private life is not honoring the LORD. This has to change. God is more concerned with our internal actions and reasons for our actions than our public actions. There should be a consistency in our inner life and our external life. This can only happen if we dedicate each day to the LORD.
There needs to be genuine repentance of sin and dedicated to obedience to the LORD. We will never be sinless but we can sin less. That should be our goal as we live for the LORD. There are many Christians who have been “saved” for forty years who act one year old in the LORD. Growth is essential in our walk with the LORD. No faking it.
CHALLENGE: Only internal self-examination can disclose our real relationship to the LORD. Examine yourself as we are commanded to do each time we partake of the LORD’S Supper.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? (6684 “fast” [tsuwm] means to cover over the mouth, at all, or the condition of voluntary abstaining from food.)
DEVOTION: There are many practices that the Bible teaches that honor the LORD. The children of Israel had a special relationship with the LORD. They were HIS chosen people. They were to be obedient to the LORD.
When they were not obedient, they were chastened of the LORD. When they repented of their sin, one of the signs that they were repentant was fasting and prayer. They would sit in sackcloth while they prayed. Many times in the Old Testament the leaders of the children of Israel called for days of fasting. This was special in the sight of the LORD.
Here we have a chapter that expresses the positive and negative aspects of fasting. Some people practiced fasting for the wrong reasons. Some didn’t understand what the purpose of fasting was in their lives or in the life of the nation. Isaiah and the LORD wanted God’s chosen people to understand the discipline of fasting.
The New Testament informs us that Jesus fasted during HIS lifetime. Paul tells married couples that when they are making major decisions they need to fast. That would mean that they would not eat or drink anything for a select time period.
The only time the children of Israel were required to fast was on the Day of Atonement. All other fasts were voluntary.
The Pharisees fasted twice a week with a purpose to show the people that they were more spiritual than the rest of those who claim to be following the LORD. The early Christians fasted twice a week. The pastors for the Methodist church were required by John Wesley to fast at least twice a week.
Christ told the Pharisees that HIS disciples were not fasting while HE was with them but that they would do it after HE was gone. What should we do? First, we have to ask ourselves whether we are doing it to honor the LORD or get more honor for ourselves. Next we have to ask whether we really know what it means to fast. Finally, we have to take the time for prayer and seeking direction from the LORD or repentance of sin.
Reread the chapter to understand the real reasons for fasting today.
The chief reason for fasting is to allow the LORD to guide us on a continual basis.
CHALLENGE: Fasting causes us to delight in the LORD. Our delight for the LORD should show in our thoughts and actions on a regular basis.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
DEVOTION: Recently in a men’s Bible study the issue of prayer was discussed and many different solutions were suggested as to why the Lord responds and why He does not! Of course we cannot explain the reasons that God has for not answering or for miraculously bringing resolutions to circumstances. Isaiah seems to bring to the people of Israel an element that we cannot ignore in our lives and times. The social concerns that Isaiah presents is just as real in many places around the world as his time. People are struggling to live and the burdens upon parents and families are intense. It is true in Europe and the Middle East where war and strife has led to thousands of homeless and destitute families. It is also true in other places which do not receive the news coverage or attention. In America it has been documented that the homeless family problem is growing as families are living on the street. The gospel often is rejected because the base issues needed for survival is not met. Traditionally soup kitchens, shelters and government agencies filled the vacuum here in the United States but elsewhere it has been the responsibility of families or churches to assist.
Perhaps our prayers for security and success in the proclamation of the Gospel is not as powerful is because we are failing to do what the Lord commands us to by meeting basic human needs. How can we loose bonds of wickedness, undo heavy burdens, and break every yoke? Perhaps it begins by sharing your bread with the hungry, assist the homeless and clothe the naked! James said it this way, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit.”
CHALLENGE: Perhaps a more vibrant prayer life will occur as we faithfully meet the needs of those we are encountering in our daily lives. After all, James concludes in 2:17 by stating clearly; “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Could that also be why our prayers are ineffective? (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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: 11 And the LORD shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (5117 “guide” [nuwach] means to lead, to conduct, to be in charge of, create an opportunity, or direct the movements of others implying leadership and rulership)
DEVOTION: The LORD wants us to have inner righteousness, so that, we can help others to live a life that is pleasing to HIM. If we are willing to allow the LORD to work in our life HE will direct our plans in a way that will cause blessing to come our way and in the ways of those we are helping.
All of us want blessing from the LORD but sometimes we are not allowing HIM to guide us toward the right way. We seem to think that we know the right path without seeking HIS direction.
Fruitfulness depends on us allowing the LORD to lead us every moment of every day. HE loves us and wants us to be blessed. That is HIS promise to us for obedience. Obedience always brings blessings to those who are HIS children.
Too often we have individuals who want the blessings of the LORD without making a personal commitment to HIM. HE only blesses HIS children.
If we know someone who is struggling in this area, we need to make sure that they have made a genuine commitment to the LORD. There are many who think they know the LORD but have never made a genuine commitment to follow HIM for the rest of their life.
CHALLENGE: If we want the LORD’S guidance, we need to commit our way to HIM genuinely. This shows in our actions and words. HE wants to satisfy HIS children!
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
True and False reasons for fasting verse 1- 14
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayer verse 2, 9
Answered prayer verse 9
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Sabbath verse 13
Holy day verse 13
Call Sabbath a delight verse 13
Holy of the LORD verse 13
Honorable verse 13
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 2
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 5, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14
Day of the LORD verse 5
Glory of the LORD verse 8
LORD answers call of righteous verse 9
LORD will say “Here I am” to those who call verse 9
LORD shall guide verse 11
Cause believers to ride on the high places verse 14
Feed HIS people heritage of Jacob verse 14
Mouth of the LORD has spoken it verse 14
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Afflict his soul verse 5
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Transgressions verse 1
Sins verse 1
Fast for strife and debate verse 4
Smite with the fist of wickedness verse 4
Wickedness verse 4, 6
Speaking vanity verse 9
Honoring the LORD in your own way verse 13
Finding your own pleasure verse 13
Speaking your own words verse 13
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Seek LORD daily verse 2
Delight to know God’s ways verse 2
Righteous verse 2, 8
Obey ordinances verse 2
Ordinances of justice verse 2
Delight in approaching God verse 2
Fast verse 3
Afflicted soul verse 3
Fast to make voice heard on high verse 4
Fast that is chosen verse 5
Loose the bands of wickedness verse 6
Fast to loose the bands of wickedness verse 6
Fast to undo the heavy burdens verse 6
Fast to let the oppressed to go free verse 6
Fast to break every yoke verse 6
Help the poor verse 7
Cover the naked verse 7
Not hide from your own flesh verse 7
Light verse 8
Health verse 8
Rereward verse 8
Call on the LORD verse 9
Help the hungry verse 10
Satisfy the afflicted soul verse 10, 11
Light shall rise in obscurity verse 10
Darkness shall be as the noon day verse 10
Guidance verse 11
Call Sabbath a delight verse 13
Honor the LORD verse 13
Delight in the LORD verse 14
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
God’s people verse 1
House of Jacob verse 1
Nation that did righteousness verse 2
Forsook not the ordinances of God verse 2
Build the old waste places verse 12
Raise up the foundations of many generation verse 12
Called the repairer of the breach verse 12
Called the restorer of paths to dwell in verse 12
Heritage of Jacob your father verse 14
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
5. This was the problem: nothing went beyond conformism, doing the right actions in the right way. Like a reed exposes the total formalism of the whole day; their very act of self-abasement was as meaningless as a reed nodding in the wind. This is not, of course, to say that there is not a proper use of bowing low before God and of the disciplined self-humbling of sackcloth (Neh. 9:1). Humans are a body-soul unity, and these things can be bodily aids to spiritual reality (just as fasting has the effect of giving a purer detachment of mind to seek God), but no ‘aid’ is immune from degenerating into a performance. (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 408). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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3b–5 Through his prophet God exposes the people’s hypocrisy (v.3–6). Clearly their fasting was not spiritually motivated. Apparently they made the fast easier by idleness and made up for lost time by getting their laborers to work all the harder. Fasting undertaken as a duty can produce an edgy, irritable community, especially in difficult climatic conditions; and v.4a probably reflects this. Prayers offered with this kind of background would never reach the heavens (v.4–6). The humbling v.5 refers to (cf. also v.3) seems to be a synonym for fasting. Sackcloth and ashes also suggest the extravagant expression of humiliation. (Grogan, G. W. (1986). Isaiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, pp. 322–323). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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58:3b–5. Their fasts did not alter their poor relationship with others. They were disregarding other peoples’ needs by exploiting their employees (cf. Deut. 24:14–15; Jas 5:1–6) and by quarreling and fighting. Therefore their prayers would not be heard, for their kind of fasting was not what the Lord accepted. Their hearts, not just their heads, needed to bow before the Lord. (Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1113). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The hypocrites (Isa. 58:1–14). God told Isaiah to shout aloud with a voice like a trumpet and announce the sins of the nation. The people went to the temple, obeyed God’s laws, fasted, and appeared eager to seek the Lord; but their worship was only an outward show. Their hearts were far from God (1:10–15; 29:13; Matt. 15:8–9). When we worship because it is the popular thing to do, not because it is the right thing to do, then our worship becomes hypocritical.
The Jews were commanded to observe only one fast on the annual Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29–31), but they were permitted to fast personally if they wished. They complained that nobody seemed to notice what they were doing. Perhaps they were trying to “buy God’s blessing” by their fasting. Worshiping God involves more than observing an outward ritual; there must be an inward obedience and submission to the Lord (Matt. 6:16–18).
If in my religious duties, I am doing what pleases me, and if doing it does not make me a better person, then I am wasting my time; and my worship is only sin. Fasting and fighting do not go together! Yet how many families walk piously out of church at the close of a Sunday worship service, get in the family car, and proceed to argue with each other all the way home!
True fasting will lead to humility before God and ministry to others. We deprive ourselves so that we might share with others and do so to the glory of God. If we fast in order to get something for ourselves from God, instead of to become better people for the sake of others, then we have missed the meaning of worship. It delights the Lord when we delight in the Lord. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (pp. 150–151). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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In His fasts God called upon them to recognize the importance of self-judgment. The fasts gave them opportunity to come before Him to meditate upon His dealings with them, and upon their own failures and sins, to confess them, and then carry out practically the compassions of God toward those who are needy. In other words, the mind of God was not simply that they should deny themselves a little food but that they should be constantly living lives of self-denial, dividing what God gave them with others, and sharing with the poor and the needy.
The Lord Jesus speaks of the same thing. He says, “Moreover when ye fast, be not … of a sad countenance … That thou appear not unto men to fast” (Matt. 6:16–18).
The people would look at them and say, “That’s a godly man—he hasn’t eaten anything since three o’clock yesterday afternoon.” But the Lord says, “When you fast, let it be between you and God, and have a cheerful, bright and happy countenance among the people.”
The Lord Jesus really is in full harmony with Isaiah; the same Spirit spoke through both. And then the Lord promises, both through Isaiah and Matthew, that if there is reality, He will reward. (Ironside, H. A. (1952). Expository notes on the prophet Isaiah. (p. 328). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 5. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? &c.] That is, can this be thought to be a fast approved of by me, and acceptable to me, before described, and is as follows: a day for a man to afflict his soul? only to appoint a certain day, and keep that, by abstaining from bodily food, and so for a short time afflict himself; or only after this manner to afflict himself, and not humble himself for his sins, and abstain from them, and do the duties of justice and charity incumbent on him: is it to bow down his head as a bulrush; when it is moved with the wind, or bruised, or withered; as if he was greatly depressed and humbled, and very penitent and sorrowful. The Syriac version renders it, as a hook; like a fish-hook, which is very much bent; so Jarchi interprets the word: and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? which were ceremonies used in times of mourning and fasting; sometimes sackcloth was put on their loins, and ashes on their heads; and sometimes these were strewed under them, and they laid down upon their sackcloth, which, being coarse, was uneasy to them, and rolled themselves in ashes, as expressive of their meanness and vileness: wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? does this deserve the name of a fast? or can it be imagined that such a day, so spent, can be agreeable to God? that such persons and services will be accepted of by him? or that hereby sin is atoned for, and God is well-pleased, and will shew his favour and good will, and have respect to such worshippers of him? no, surely. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, p. 341). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Two things are happening today that I never thought I would live to see. First, spiritual warfare is getting much more intense and Satan is becoming much more real. Second, as mentioned above, too many Christians are not taking spiritual warfare seriously or even believing such a war is going on. These two factors taken together mean we have a crisis on our hands. When the danger increases and awareness decreases, an alarm needs to be sounded to prevent disaster. (p. 38, I Never Thought I’d See The Day by David Jeremiah)
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One of the beautiful words in our language, in both sound and sense, is edification. The Greek version has a nice right to it too: oikodomeo. It is two words combined, oikos (house) and demon (to build). So when we speak of edifying – building up – one another, the Greek understanding is building one anothers’ house. The word edifice, or building, comes from this root. (p. 54)
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The myopic church shopper’s spiritual vision is distorted by a focus on convenience – “What does the church have to offer me? – instead of focusing on relevance – “How will this church help me to ‘serve the lost and broken world?’” (p. 57)
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For the church of Jesus Christ, it’s always “We over Me.” As the athletes say it, “There’s no “I” in team.” (p. 58)
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Jonathan Edwards, America’s great preacher and theologian, said, “Our people do not so much need to have their heads turned as to have their hearts touched, and they stand in the greatest need of that sort of preaching which has the greatest tendency to do this.” (p.62) (Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah)
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Moses reviews the Ten Commandments with the children of Israel.
INSIGHT
David writes that the Law of the Lord is perfect, and in keeping it, there is great reward. Part of that great reward is spelled out in chapter 5. Moses says that if the children of Israel will keep God’s commandments, it will go well with them and with their sons forever! In addition, the Lord promises that they will live and that they may prolong their days in the land.
Holiness is not expensive. In fact, all the deepest longings of a child of God are met only in holiness. Could we consistently believe this, our lives would be more holy. Like the Israelites, we think that we are missing something by serving God. We are missing no more than the Israelites missed of Egypt. (Quiet Time)
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How to Please the Lord
“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9)
In this verse, Paul expresses the strong desire to be “pleasing to” (the idea behind “accepted of”) the Lord Jesus Christ. It should likewise be our own ambition—whatever we do and wherever we are—to please Him. This, of course, will make a difference in what we do and where we go!
The Scriptures give us a number of specific ways in which we can be confident of pleasing Him. For example: “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1). That is, our criterion should be pleasing Him—not ourselves. Similarly, we are warned that “they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). That is, our thoughts and deeds must not be governed by worldly considerations.
By suffering, willingly, for His sake, we can please Him. “If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable [‘well-pleasing’] with God” (1 Peter 2:20).
“Without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6). We must walk by faith if we would please the Lord. This is not faith in the abstract, but specific truth—faith to believe the revealed Word of God and to act on that faith.
God is pleased with generosity. “But to do good and to communicate [to share what we have with others, for His sake] forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). This certainly includes sharing the gospel, as well as our material possessions. “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).
Finally, when our ways please the Lord, we have this gracious promise: “Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE
It is finished. John 19:30
We need to be delivered from the power of the devil, we need death and the grave to be conquered—and our Lord Jesus Christ has done it all. And beyond all that, we need a new nature, because we need not only forgiveness of sins, but to be made fit to have communion and fellowship with God. We need to have a nature that can stand before God, for “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”(1 John 1:5). And Christ has come and given Himself, His own nature, the eternal life of which he speaks in John 17:1-5. So here, looking at it all, He can say, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (verse 4).
He has done everything that is necessary for man to be reconciled to God. Have you realized, my friends, that this work is finished? Have you realized that it is finished as far as you are concerned? You are asked whether you are a Christian, and you reply that you are hoping to be, but that you need to do this, that, and the other. No! Christ says, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” The work has been done, and what proves whether we are truly Christians or not is whether we know and realize that the work has been done and that we then rest, and rest only, upon the finished work of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If we see it all in Him and the work done and completed in Him, it means we are Christians.
The way for you to know God and to be reconciled to Him is wide-open in the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect work on your behalf. If you have never entered in before, enter in now, rest upon the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and begin to rejoice, immediately, in your great salvation.
A Thought to Ponder: The way for you to know God, and to be reconciled to Him, is wide-open in the Lord Jesus Christ. (From Saved in Eternity, pp. 105-106.)
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Quivering
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. PSALM 127:4
The last three verses of Psalm 127 are some of the most precious in the Bible when it comes to thinking about our children. Barbara and I have certainly had a “quiver” full with our six (see verse 5). But part of the reward God talks about in this passage comes with responsibility—the responsibility to launch our children into adulthood at the appropriate time.
If you’ve done any archery or bow hunting, you know that the moment you make your release, two things happen: (1) the arrow whips off the bow, and (2) you experience “string slap” as the bowstring smacks against your forearm. Man, it can hurt—the same way the flight of your grown children can ache in your heart.
But there is purpose to this pain. There is a reason for this release. I’m reminded of what Jim Elliot wrote to his parents after informing them that he was being called by God to the jungles of Ecuador as a missionary. Like any parents, Jim’s folks wished for him safety and security, a steady income beneath his feet and a roof over his head. But he said to them: Remember how the Psalmist described children? He said they were a heritage from the Lord, that every man should be happy who had his quiver full of them. And what is a quiver full of but arrows? And what are arrows for but to shoot? So with the strong arms of prayer, draw the bowstring back and let the arrows fly—all of them, straight at the enemy’s hosts!
No, it’s not an easy process. You could wish these years didn’t have to come so soon. But by releasing your children purposefully into adulthood—with a biblical sense of mission—you place them under the care of the Holy Spirit, helping them learn to be independently dependent upon Him, becoming the young men and women He wants them to be.
DISCUSS
What do you see as your children’s purpose? What are you preparing them for? (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
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