Month: November 2019

• 83. A New Thing

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

The Lord promises a new thing: a Messiah, the Savior, shall come into the world out of heaven to save sinners and earn eternal life for all believers in Him. He will make a way in the emptiness of the soul, and make rivers of waters for the dry desert of the soul. This promise was fulfilled in Jesus. And the entire world and we know it. The work of the promised Messiah was not done in a corner, even though the land of Judea seemed like a remote corner of the Roman Empire. It didn’t take long for the known world to know what Jesus had done.

It was a new thing. No human being on earth could have thought it up; no one could even imagine what great things God, the Lord, .did by becoming a man. He took our sins upon Him and died the penalty for them so that God could forgive sins, grant eternal life, and receive us into His Kingdom today and forever. It is also a new thing, in that it makes each believer new; he or she is given a new life, the very life of God; we now walk in newness of life. It is also new because we were set free from the old way of living in the chains of sin and death. The old is gone, the new has come. We are a New Creation in Christ.

In Revelation 21, at the end of the Bible and the End of the World, the Lord God declares, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He has made us new with new spiritual bodies in the resurrection, and He has brought in the new heaven and the new earth for the newly resurrected bodies to live in. How exciting is something new! Everyone loves a new car or a new house or a new gadget. The only problem is that whatever it is it wears out and gets old very quickly, and then we desire another new thing. However, once God has made us new, and when He gives us new things in a new creation, it is renewed constantly. It never wears out; it never gets old. And there will be new things every day for eternity. For now, in this present age, the inner man is being renewed day by day. Jesus will do a new thing.

• 82. I Am With You

Isaiah 43:5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west.

Jesus promises that He will be with us always; therefore, we have nothing to fear. If it is true that God is with us we have nothing to worry about, for He is with us for our good and for our benefit, not for our punishment and suffering. We may undergo sufferings and the consequences of our sin, but He will be with us in it. He came into our word of sin and suffering, went to the cross, and right in our midst and in our suffering earth He died for our sin. He takes it all upon Himself. And if He is with us now, here, where we live in our pain He will still take it all upon Himself and bear it away. So what are we worried about? Why are we anxious? Jesus is here. 

He is here in our world, and He will gather the church about Himself. He will build an enclave within a cruel world and draw us into it. We are safe and secure; we are kept for Him and for life forever with Him. If God is for us, who can be against us? How will He not with Him give us all things?

There are times when I need somebody to be there for me. And for that need I have the promise: the Lord is there for me. He will not fail, but He will accomplish what He intends for my life, body and soul, now and forever. There may be no more encouraging words to hear than these: “I am here; I am with you; fear not.” I respond, “Thou, my Good Shepherd, art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord every day from now on forever.” God means it; I mean it.

• 81. Precious and Loved

Isaiah 43:4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

Receive this most wonderful promise from the Lord: “You are precious in my sight and I have loved you.” Almighty God the Father says this directly to His Only-begotten Son, but because we are identified with Christ by faith our Father God says this also to us.

I may not feel precious, but that is a lie; God says I am. I am precious to the Lord God. In His eyes I am like a Pearl of Great Price, and God will go to great lengths to make me His own prized possession. I may not feel loved, but that is a lie. God Himself says, “I love you.” And God means what He says. It is true and eternal. He loved you like this: He gave His Son. Look at the cross and see the Love of God. Look at the tomb and receive the Life of God. God loves us so much He gives us His own life; He shares His Life with us. We believe in Jesus: we have His life.

The prophecy given here for the Son of God is that the Father will give people for Him. I am one of those people that the Father has drawn to Himself because of Christ. I am always precious to the Lord. His love is not fleeting, partial, or uncertain. It is forever, total, and absolutely sure.

Another interesting part of this promise is this: you have been honorable. God honors me, exalts me, and lifts me up, not because I am good but because He places great value upon me. He honors me because He gives a place of honor to His Son, Jesus Christ, and I am identified with Him by faith. I receive the honor of Christ and I am given a place with Him; I am precious in His sight. It cannot ever get any better than that. It is one thing to know you are blessed; it is another thing to know you are loved; it is an even greater thing to know you precious and honored.

• 80. Through Water and Fire

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Everyone is familiar with natural disasters of water, floods and hurricanes. We are familiar with the dangers of fire, arson and wildfires. We respect “acts of God” and realize that water and fire out of control is life threatening. God does not promise to take them away and remove such threats to life. But He does promise to deliver us from the evil of such dangers. We will pass through waters and walk through fires. This will literally and figuratively happen to all humans living on earth. It is a part of the curse under which we were born. But the waters will not overflow us and we will not get burned.

Metaphorically and spiritually, bad things will happen to good people, but here is Gods Promise: “You will get through it; this, too, will pass.” He will deliver us from the evil of bad things and keep us cared for. We will come out on the other side of threatening times without being overflowed or burned. Believe the Promise especially when under water and in the fire. Just like the snakes in the wilderness the Lord does not take them away, but He raises up a snake on a pole (Sin on the Cross), that if we look to the cross and believe we will be saved and delivered from the poison of Sin. 

We suffer in life because of Sin; we are surrounded by it and filled with it. Sin always causes bad results, but the Lord Jesus is always there to deliver. He will be with us in the floods and the flames will not kindle on us. Use this picture to understand the power of the forgiveness of sins earned, bought, paid for, and granted to us for free. Forgiveness is not just words and a ritual; it is real and powerful. It saves, rescues, and delivers us. Whatever we are going through, we will get through; and we will come out on the other side. Joy always comes in the morning. Remember, no matter what it feels like presently, the promise is true: “I will be with you.”

•  79. Redeemed, Named, Owned

Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. And further, I believe that He shaped and formed me with His own hands out of the dust and made one unique me that was just what He wanted. “He formed me” = He arranged my DNA. This God redeemed me, called me by name, and made me His own. God didn’t make a mistake: I am the one that uglified and messed up my life. But God is the one who corrected my mistakes, redeemed this lost and condemned creature, gave me a name, and adopted me as His own.

The Lord redeemed me. This is a promise: I have been redeemed and I now remain in a state of redemption. Every day I can say, “I am redeemed.” I am redeemed, re-created, and resurrected by faith in Jesus Christ. Although my body is not yet resurrected I am now by faith in Christ resurrected and glorified. That future truth is so real it is regarded as present now. Faith in the promise is redemption and resurrection. God created me perfect once; I was kidnapped and enslaved by Sin, Death and the Devil; I was bought back by the blood of Jesus; I am restored to God’s original plan and purpose.

The Lord called my by name. He even gave me a new name. Calling me by name signifies His love and tender care for me, and it denotes a personal relationship. He is my faithful and eternal friend. And also, the Lord puts His name upon me, being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When Aaron gave God’s benediction he “put my name upon the people.” And God says, “I will bless them.” [Numbers 6:27] To bear the name of God is a great blessing. Don’t take it in vain.

The Lord says, “You are mine.” When God makes me His own and adopts me into His family He assumes responsibility for me. Like a perfect Father, He obligates Himself to provide, preserve, protect, nurture, teach, love and care for me. A wise child learns to play and enjoy life under such an umbrella. We get in trouble when we want to own ourselves and step our from under, which happens when we sin. But, like the Prodigal’s Father, He welcomes us back every time. “I am my Beloved’s, and He is mine; His banner over me is love.”

78, Paths, Light, Straight Things

Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not: I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

The Lord is with us and He will not leave us alone to cope by ourselves. He promises to lead us on right paths, make darkness light, and make crooked things straight. We often can’t see the path, often find ourselves in darkness, and often seem to deal with crooked things. Fear not, for I am with you, says the Lord, I will make the path known, make darkness light and crooked things straight.

We can’t find the best path to take and sometimes we don’t even know where the path is. The Lord makes many promises to put us on the best path of life, and He will keep us there. “He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” We see several paths in front of us and don’t know which one to take; but the Lord promises to lead on a path we did not even know about. How often God surprises us with a way to go that we would never have thought of before. Admit it: we do not know the way, but Jesus is the Way. He will never take us down a bad path.

We find ourselves groping in the darkness and discovering that we are lost. This is always true, but at certain times we sense an overwhelming darkness more than at other times. God gives light for the path so we can take the next step by faith in the faithful God. But more than giving light, He changes the darkness into light, so that we walk in the light as He is in the light. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” We don’t have to grope our way, but we follow the light.

God writes straight on crooked lines. Our lives are crooked lines, wandering this way and that without clear direction. We make the roads crooked, twisted, steep, muddy, rutted and slippery. But the Lord is able to write straight on our twisted and messed up lives. He makes our lives straight, smooth, and full of light. Taking hold of this promise we are able to give the Lord our pathless, darkened, crooked, and messed up lives and let Him sort it out. He knows the right way, for He is the Way.

•  77. Servant is Called

Isaiah 42:6,7 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles: To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

The prophecy is about the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and Son of Man. The Lord God called Him, held Him, and kept Him; He has given Him as a covenant for the Jews and a light for the Gentiles. The prophecy has been fulfilled in the birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. God promised a Messiah and He kept His promise. He was given for all people, Jews and Gentiles alike.

The promise for us is based on what this Messiah will do and has done for us: He will open the eyes of the blind, bring out the prisoners, and set free those in darkness. We, all sinners, are spiritually blind, for we do not see God, the things of God, or the spiritual realm where He lives. Jesus opens the eyes of the heart and the Holy Spirit causes us to see when we hear the Gospel. What a glorious thing it is for us to see! How beautiful is God, His Life, and His Love!

He will bring out the prisoners from the prison. We, all humans, were born in a spiritual prison, kidnapped, captured, bound, and held by Sin, Death and the Devil. All who sin are slaves of sin. Jesus sets us free; when He died for our sins they were forgiven and the enemies have no more legal right to keep us bound. For freedom Christ has set us free. Freedom is life and life forever.

The third promise is that Jesus will bring out those who sit in darkness. All people “sit in darkness.” The darkness in which we live is even darker for those who don’t even see the darkness. It should not be hard to see and feel the thick darkness if we have lived very long at all. Down deep, every person on earth knows that life can be better than it is. Things have to be better than they are and the hope for a better life is hard to crush. The Good News: “There is a better life; let Me open your eyes so that you can see both the light and the darkness; repent and believe.”

• 76. Hear and Not Forsake

Isaiah 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

God promises water for the poor and needy and thirsty. He will hear them and not leave them alone. He is attentive to their thirst and need. He pays attention to all people and knows the needs of every person. Jesus manifests the attention of the Lord to all kinds of people in need: poor, hungry, thirsty, oppressed, humble, meek, mourning, prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners, sick, blind, deaf, lame, and even the dead.

Be assured: God hears you and will not leave you alone. The Lord uses a physical metaphor to explain the spiritual truth for us: thirst and water. The thirst is an absence of God and eternal life in our soul; the water is God Himself and the eternal life of God. The Scriptures are full of the mention of water in regard to salvation, the Holy Spirit, life, refreshment for the soul, cleansing from sin, and all the blessings God graciously gives us who believe the Gospel.

Most people have experienced the refreshment of a cold drink on a hot and thirsty day. Most people enjoy a warm bath or shower after a long day. This is the same kind of experience spiritually for the refreshment of the soul when we repent and believe the Gospel, remember our Baptism, partake of the Lord’s Supper, receive the forgiveness of sins, or simply hear and read the Scriptures. The love of God and the life of God wash over the soul and it feels like liquid love. Then we leave the place of contact with the Gospel cleansed, refreshed, filled with new life, and we are ready for the new week or the new day. This is what happens according to God’s promise. When we think about it we realize what is really happening. 

So be thirsty; realize what sin has done to you. Drink deeply of the Spirit; realize what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for you. Believe the promise: the Lord will hear.

•  75. Hold Your Hand

Isaiah 41:13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

We may think that we are so self-sufficient that we don’t need anyone to hold my hand while going through a difficult period, but we are mistaken. Our own sin has made us weak and powerless to stand up against the Evil that is against us. But if God is for us who can be against us? That’s a rhetorical question: of course, we know the answer. God promises to hold our hand. The only question remaining: Do I want God to hold my hand? Will I let Him help?

At many crucial junctures in Scripture where a man is in difficult straits as he meets a manifestation of God, the world comes from the Lord or from Jesus: “Fear not.” These are powerful words and strong encouragements. The shepherds were suddenly surrounded by many angels and the glory of God, and they were told, “Fear not, I bring you good tidings of great joy.” Jesus appeared walking on the water, and said, “Fear not, it is I.” There are dozens of other examples of encounters with God in some way, and the next words from God are words of love and comfort and gospel. It turns out that the fearsome God loves you.

“Do not be afraid; do not panic; do not worry; be anxious for nothing.” Jesus is here to hold your hand; He will help you. He comes next to you to give, aid, comfort, help, and strength. That’s His promise: I will help you. We do not need to be so proud or ashamed to take hold of the outstretched hand. When we are sinking in the water we can, like Peter, take hold of the hand of Jesus reaching out for us. Jesus promises to be there, to hold your hand and to help.

• 74. Strengthen My Servant

Isaiah 41:9-10 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof,, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

The Lord gives a prophecy about The Servant, who turns out to be Jesus of Nazareth the Christ. The Servant is taken, called and chosen to be the Servant of the Lord. The called Servant is exhorted not to fear nor be dismayed, because the Lord is with Him, the Lord will strengthen Him, He will help Him, and He will uphold Him. This promise gives the Servant Messiah courage and strength to undergo persecution and crucifixion. Jesus took courage to carry out the will of the Father as He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane. The promise given to the Servant is also meant for us who identify by faith with Him. In Christ we are able to endure anything: we do not fear nor are we dismayed, for have the Promise. We have Christ, who was given this promise.

Our Lord promises four things. First, He is with us. He is Immanuel, God with us. Jesus says, “Lo, I am with you always.” In the early church the people saw that the Disciples had been with Jesus. This promise from Jesus is extremely comforting. Whenever we are sick, poor, weak, persecuted, in mourning, and downtrodden it is comforting and encouraging for us to know that God is with us. His presence to bless, preserve, protect, and save works for us in every circumstance.

Second, He will strengthen us. When we are weak (and we always are) He is strong. His strength is made perfect in weakness. God has the strength for us and it works for us when we need it.

Third, He will help us. God helps the helpless. Cry out to Him in distress and the Lord will come to be with you, strength you, and help you. He is wise to know how to help; He is strong to be able to help; He is love, so He freely and willingly offers His help.

Fourth, He will uphold us. We will not stumble and fall. We will always be held up and kept going. Count on it.