5th May 2024

Restoration

 Do not fear, for I have redeemed you . . .

Isaiah 43:1

Isaiah 43 is a great promise of God’s rescue and redemption of Israel, but it must be seen in the context of what precedes it. Notice Isaiah 42:25: “So [God] poured out on them His burning anger, the violence of war. It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.” Though God had disciplined His people for their spiritual waywardness, His promised rescue is a reminder of His surpassing love for them, even though they had turned from Him.

The prophet Isaiah rebuked the people of Israel for their spiritual blindness and deafness (Isaiah 42:18–19), but then He proclaimed the hope of God’s deliverance and redemption: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you” (43:1). He can do the same for us. Even after we have sinned, if we confess our sins and turn to God, He forgives and restores us (v 5–7; see1 John 1:9). We cannot bring beauty out of the mess, but the Lord Jesus can. The Good-News of the Gospel is that He has redeemed us by His blood. The book of Revelation assures us that in the end, Christ will dry our tears, redeem our past, and make all things new (Revelation 21:4–5).

We have a limited vision of our story. But God, who knows us “by name” (Isaiah 43:1), will make our lives more beautiful than we could ever imagine. If you have been redeemed by faith in Jesus Christ, your story, has a glorious ending.

Bible Reading

Isaiah 43:1-7.

Prayer

Dear Father, thank You for never giving up on me. I surrender to You and ask that You please redeem what I have ruined. In Christ's name. Amen.

4th May 2024

His Name Is Grace

Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there,

and proclaimed the name of the Lord.

 Exodus 34:10

How do you introduce yourself? Most people introduce themselves by giving their name, and they might then say something about themselves.

In our reading from Exodus today, God meets with Moses and pauses to describe Himself so that the people can know who He is. God calls Himself “the Lord” and says He is “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exodus 34:6). Similar descriptions of God are included in many places in the Bible. The gracious nature of God is at the heart of His identity.

Knowing who God is, we can take comfort that nothing from our past, present, or future will separate us from God’s love. When we meet the God of grace, we can find peace, knowing that God is forgiving, patient, and loving. God’s grace and forgiveness lead us to know Him, and His patience and lovingkindness faithfully guide us to follow Him forever.

Bible Reading

Exodus 34:5-10.

Prayer

Great God of wonder and grace, thank You that You have made Yourself known to me, and saved me by the work of Your Son, the Lord Jesus on the cross. Thank You, Father. Amen.

3rd May 2024

Friendship With God

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God,

and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

And he was called the friend of God.'

 James 2:23

Many years ago a man received a message from God, and God adopted him as His own, and this man became friends with God (Isaiah 41:8 James 2:23). Later God gave him the name Abraham, which means “father of many” (Gen 17:4). But Abraham had no children. Then God promised to bless Abraham with many children, and somehow, in some way, through Abraham’s family, God would bless all the peoples of the earth (Gen 12:3).

Through the years, God stayed true to His promises to bless the world’s peoples through Abraham, even though Abraham’s descendants were quite dysfunctional. But God surprised everyone by keeping His promises through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham. Jesus Christ was and is, the Saviour, the Messiah not only for God’s adopted people but also for all people the world over.

Today, by faith, by trusting in the Lord Jesus, people from all nations, tribes, and languages can be adopted into God’s family, and know that they are saved for all eternity.

Bible Reading

Genesis 12:1-3.

Prayer

Father, thank You for accepting me, and adopting me into Your family; and this not because of any good thing found in me, but because of the Messiah Jesus and His work on the cross. I praise and bless You for Him. Amen.