Thursday, July 17, 2008

Title: To The Rescue / Topic: God's Gracious & Merciful Help

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 29; Isaiah 30; Isaiah 31; James 1

Scripture: Isaiah 30:15, 18-19, 23-26, James 1:5
Isaiah 30
15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it...
18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!
19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you...
23 He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows. 24 The oxen and donkeys that work the soil will eat fodder and mash, spread out with fork and shovel. 25 In the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall, streams of water will flow on every high mountain and every lofty hill. 26 The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Observation: God's judgment against his wayward people is the theme of Isaiah 29-31. And throughout these chapters, God's verdict of harsh consequences is given in horrific detail. But throughout these accounts there is a sprinkling of verses that show the mercy of God toward his people. When the people return to him in repentance, God is ready to forgive and heal and bless them.

Application: God's mercy is rich and ready for anyone who will humble themselves and seek him. God promises blessing and healing for those who turn their hearts to him, no matter what their previous rebellious ways have been. And in James, the Lord even promises to give wisdom to anyone who is willing to ask, giving freely "without finding fault." How merciful our Lord is to his children. He watches us and stands ready to receive us back into full fellowship and blessing, like the father of the prodigal who saw his son's return from a great distance and welcomed him back with love and restoration. Let us turn to the Lord and receive restoration, grace, love, and fruitfulness.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your gracious nature. Your love truly reaches to the heavens. I want to be a man who stands close to you always. But, if I should stray, bring swift judgment to me that I may quickly return to you, and be restored to the place of your grace and blessing. Thank you for your gracious and merciful help.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.