Isaiah 50-54

Isaiah reveals a little about how tough following God's call to share His holy words has been in Isaiah 50-54.  And even though Isaiah's job has caused him frustration, abuse, and I would imagine some fear, Isaiah faithfully keeps going because he knows that God's word sustains people and gives life.

We hear more about Jesus, our Messiah, who we know today, lived, died, and was raised from the dead so that we might have eternal life.  It really amazes me to think about God sharing this good news with Isaiah before it actually happened. 

I am reminded of just how big and purposeful our loving God is.  And yet, God never stops revealing Himself and his power in our everyday human lives.

And I love that we get another really awesome and everlasting promise (in addition to Jesus) from God in today's reading.  

God connects this new promise to the promise He made with the rainbow in the days of Noah.  Then God promised He would never again cover the earth.  And in today's reading, God promises He will not be angry with us for our inequities.

God tells us,

"To me this is like the days of Noah, 

  when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.

So now I have sworn not to be angry with you,

  never to rebuke you again.

Though the mountains be shaken 

  and the hills be removed,

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken

  nor my covenant of peace be removed,"

  says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:9-10

I see this promise as huge for our faith.  It's a breakthrough in our relationship with God.  Though by our very nature we will continue to stray from God's will, instead of anger taking over, God will forever come to us with compassion.

Thanks to Jesus, our faith isn't about religious rules, our deeds and sacrifices, and the consequences that follow.  It's so much more than that.

Even though we will continue to fail at times in our lives, God's love is unconditional and unfailing.

Now our faith is about knowing and following Jesus' way with the comfort that 
God's grace is more than enough to get us where He needs us to go for Him.  

We can forever hand our lives over to God without fear, letting Him transform us to be the purposeful people He designed us to be.

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

I thank you so much for Your great promises for my life.  I am so thankful for Jesus who was crushed for our inequities and whose wounds heal us for eternity.

Thank You, that even though I mess-up and fall short of Your will, You come to me with compassion and peace.  I am forever grateful for my relationship with You, Lord.

Forgive me for all the ways I fail to do what You call me to do.

Help me to follow Jesus' example in my life.  

I pray that You will breakthrough the self-centeredness and the barriers, routines, and comfort zones that keep me from going into the world and serving and generously loving others like Jesus.  

Open my heart where it has become guarded and numb.  Move me to the places You need me to go and guide my hands and feet by Your Holy Spirit.

Speak to me today, Lord.  Open my ears, my eyes, and my mind to Your word.

[Spend time listening for God's voice]

I pray today for/about ___________________.  Show me Your way when it comes to ____________________ .

Teach us, Lord.  Teach our children, teach their children, and their children's children for generations to come.  Fill us with Your peace and transform our lives and our world.

In the name of Jesus, our Savior, I pray,

Amen

Peace of Christ,

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