Morning Devotion
January 14, 2021
Today's Bible Verse
Isaiah 45:23
I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. <br><br>
Today's Bible Study
In this verse, we are given a glimpse into the future. The Lord says that every knee and every tongue shall worship Him alone. We can take heart in this verse today, assured that we already know how everything on Earth is going to end and that it will glorify the Lord.
The verse begins with the Lord saying that the words have gone out of His mouth and will not return. What does that mean? It means He will not go back on what has been said and what He says afterward. What He has proclaimed will come to pass: Every person who has ever lived will bow before the Lord and worship Him. While there are people on Earth who deny the existence of God or worship other gods, they will all one day call Him Lord. Even if they did not recognize Him while they were living, they will recognize Him after.
This is a comfort to us as we talk to people about God. As we spread the Gospel among those we know (and even go to new places to spread it), we can anchor ourselves in the truth that even if they reject the Gospel now, a day will come when they bow before the Lord.
The verse begins with the Lord saying that the words have gone out of His mouth and will not return. What does that mean? It means He will not go back on what has been said and what He says afterward. What He has proclaimed will come to pass: Every person who has ever lived will bow before the Lord and worship Him. While there are people on Earth who deny the existence of God or worship other gods, they will all one day call Him Lord. Even if they did not recognize Him while they were living, they will recognize Him after.
This is a comfort to us as we talk to people about God. As we spread the Gospel among those we know (and even go to new places to spread it), we can anchor ourselves in the truth that even if they reject the Gospel now, a day will come when they bow before the Lord.
It also gives us hope right now. Sometimes the world seems like a desperate and dark place that is positively brimming with sin. We don't have to look hard to see evidence of our fallen nature. However, this verse lets us know that one day we will all know our place: underneath a mighty and loving God. While those who rejected Him during their lives will not have communion with Him afterward, we can rest in the fact that the world is not going to remain as it is.
This verse lets us know that God is working an ultimate plan of restoration for the entire world. His plan is great and beyond our ability to comprehend, and, in the meantime, we can trust and walk in faithful obedience.
This verse lets us know that God is working an ultimate plan of restoration for the entire world. His plan is great and beyond our ability to comprehend, and, in the meantime, we can trust and walk in faithful obedience.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, I thank you for letting us in on the end of the story: Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. Thank you for being so good to me and for making your name great. Help me to serve you well. In Jesus' name, amen.
If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.
-C.S. Lewis
God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars.
-Elbert Hubbard
The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.
-C.S. Lewis
If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.
-Dorothy Parker
Yesterday's Devotional
January 13, 2021
Yesterday's Bible Verse
John 14:1
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. <br><br>
Yesterday's Bible Study
Jesus speaks these words to His disciples before the crucifixion. He has just told them that He is leaving them, and He knows they are likely to fear without Him. The antidote to fear is belief. Instead of letting their hearts be troubled, the disciples should believe in God and Jesus as His Son.
I think it was tender of Jesus to recognize that the disciples were afraid to be without their leader. Rather than chiding them for unbelief or faithlessness, He simply told them the solution to what they were feeling: believing in God.
Today we face a similar choice. Will we let our hearts be troubled by the world around us? Or will we make the intentional decision to cast our cares upon the Lord and believe that He is good? This may sound like an easy decision at face value, but it drastically affects the thoughts that we entertain and the way we respond to our feelings.
I think it was tender of Jesus to recognize that the disciples were afraid to be without their leader. Rather than chiding them for unbelief or faithlessness, He simply told them the solution to what they were feeling: believing in God.
Today we face a similar choice. Will we let our hearts be troubled by the world around us? Or will we make the intentional decision to cast our cares upon the Lord and believe that He is good? This may sound like an easy decision at face value, but it drastically affects the thoughts that we entertain and the way we respond to our feelings.
If we believe that the Lord is faithful, we are not subject to life's ups and downs that rock us. When we have decided in our hearts that the Lord is good, we do not have to be afraid of what happens in our lives because nothing will shake our firm belief in His faithfulness. That firm, unshakable belief is the anchor that keeps us steady in every circumstance.
The disciples were about to experience many doubts and fears, but Jesus tells them they can trust that God is good and faithful. Three days later, they saw exactly what He meant.
The disciples were about to experience many doubts and fears, but Jesus tells them they can trust that God is good and faithful. Three days later, they saw exactly what He meant.
Yesterday's Prayer
Dear Lord, I thank you for the Resurrection that proved you are faithful always and in every circumstance. I thank you for your goodness and kindness. I ask that you would help me to rid myself of unbelief and that I would rest fulfilled in your presence. In Jesus' name, amen.