Isaiah 1-5

I can't imagine being a prophet from the Bible.  Can you?  

That's honestly the first thing that ran through my mind as I read Isaiah 1-5.

Isaiah is the first book of the prophets as we follow the printed order of the Bible.  Isaiah speaks God's word as it relates to the future of His people.  Even though we always have hope with our loving God, being a prophet must have been a really hard job.  Out of his own devotion and faithfulness to God, Isaiah has to tell people things they don't want to hear at times. 

The reality of the situation is hard and harsh for the many people who were struggling to be faithful during Isaiah's day.  And, I am so thankful that I have the advantage of knowing Jesus.

I would imagine many of Isaiah's messages made him an unpopular guy.  Yet, he turns out to be one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament.

God tells Isaiah what to do and and say.  His prophecy is full of warning.

Stop bringing meaningless offerings...

Wash and make yourselves clean.

  Take your evil deeds out of my sight;

  stop doing wrong.

Learn to do right; seek justice.

  Defend the oppressed.

  Take up the cause of the fatherless;

  plead the case of the widow...

If you are willing and obedient,

  you will eat the good things of the land.

Isaiah 1:13, 16-17, 19

In Christ, all of our inequities are wiped away, and we find our graceful purpose in this life.  We are made new.  Our lives in Christ are meant to be full of meaning.

Isaiah's words remind us today what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world.

A prayer for today-

Dear God, 

Thank You for the new, hope-filled, and gracious life we have in Christ. Thank You for freeing me from my sins through the blood of Your son.  Thank You for all those who inspire us with Your word for our lives.

I pray for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.  Give me, Lord, my daily bread.  And as I come to You asking forgiveness for my mistakes and misguided ways, I pray You will grab me by the hand and empower me with Your Holy Spirit to  change for the better and do what You need me to do for Your glory.

I pray for all those who need to find Your saving grace today.  May they find the love and peace of Christ all of us so desperately need.

In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen

Blessings,

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.