~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Isaiah 48:12-50:11 ~ Ephesians 4:17-32
Psalm 69:1-18 ~ Proverbs 24:5-6
Old Testament - Isaiah chapter 49 verse 6 is sometimes referred to as "the great commission of the Old Testament"! Here it is: "You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." Paul and Barnabas quote this verse in part in Acts 13:47. The preceding 5 verses (1-5) in chapter 49 are considered the second servant song in Isaiah and are thought to refer to Jesus, the coming Messiah. Isaiah chapter 50 verses 4 through 9 in today's readings are considered the third servant song (out of a total of four) in Isaiah. It's interesting, when I initially read these verses in chapter 50 I really thought they were solely about the prophet Isaiah. But, as we all know by now from our readings in Isaiah - and we'll see this again in big ways in our coming day's readings - Isaiah often had the coming Savior of the world, Jesus, on his mind when he was writing this incredible book of the Old Testament in the eighth century B.C....
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Isaiah chapter 50 titled "The Lord Can and Will Help Those Who Trust Him" is at this link.
New Testament - Wow. It is rare that I will copy & paste 8 verses in a row here on this blog - because you can simply read the verses by clicking on the link above. However - I think these 8 verses of Paul's in Ephesians chapter 4 verses 17 through 24 bear repeating here and warrant our re-reading and really meditating on these verses. Please take a few minutes to really reflect and pray on these verses - "With the Lord's authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed. But that isn't what you were taught when you learned about Christ. Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy, and true." Powerful verses, eh? I love this teaching - there must be a spiritual renewal of our thoughts and attitudes! Has there been a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes? Is there currently a continuing spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes? Or are you maybe on "cruise control" these days? A great teaching I heard once is that "you are either moving forward or you are sliding backwards. There is no stable middle ground." I believe this to be true in our spiritual life. We are either moving forward - continually renewing our thoughts and attitudes and displaying our new nature - or we are sliding backwards. Backsliding as some may say. I pray that each of us today will really take to heart these teachings of Paul's in Ephesians. Let us throw off our old evil nature and our former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception! Let us each and every day spiritually renew our thoughts and attitudes through Christ Jesus our Lord!
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Ephesians titled "Leaving Our Old Ways Behind" is at this link.
Psalms - Psalm 69 verse 16 today is such a true statement that maybe we need to be reminded of today - "Answer my prayers, O LORD, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Turn and take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful." God does answer our prayers - perhaps not in the way we "want" Him to, but always in the way that is ultimately best for us and the Kingdom. His unfailing love is wonderful. His mercy is so plentiful. But, yet, somehow I think I sometimes forget all of this. Why? I think I forget about God's love & mercy when I am not praying to him. How about you? Are you needing a reminder today about God's unfailing love and his mercy? Are you praying to God for these very things? Will you allow God to demonstrate both his love and mercy to you today? Will you offer up prayers and allow God to answer in his perfect way?
Proverbs - Proverbs 24 verse 5 seems to go against some of our modern world's teachings about strength being the key to success - "A wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge is more powerful than a strong man." Which do you believe to be true? The world that says strength is mightier? Or the Bible that says wisdom is mightier? Let us seek ever-increasing godly wisdom in our lives each day of our life!
Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
Isaiah 49 (NKJV)
6
Indeed He says, ‘ It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
NOTE:
May I – may we – really catch God’s vision of Who He is and how He can use us as we trust and obey Him.
One way to fulfill God’s promise in this verse is to pray for Muslims during Ramadan.
Day 3 - Pray for Muslims in Tashkent city, Uzbekistan
Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, lies in a great oasis along the Chirchik River in the foothills of the Tian Shan Mountains.
One of the oldest cities in Central Asia, Tashkent was once a significant rest stop and trading center where merchants and caravans could find refreshment after crossing the mountains and deserts between Samarkand / Bukhara and China on the Great Silk Road.
Although about 50% of the people in Tashkent are Uzbek, the city is also home to significant Russian (30%), Tatar, Tajik, Kazakh, and Korean ethnic minorities.
As a significant transportation hub, the largest city, and the biggest industrial concentration in Central Asia, Tashkent greatly influences its region.
Hospitality and Family Highly Valued
The Uzbek proverb, “a guest is more honorable than your father” reveals two things. First, hospitality is a high virtue. Uzbeks have been known to say, “What is a house for, if not for receiving guests? We must care for all those that God brings to our door.”
Second, the proverb tells us that family is highly valued. The authority of a father or mother is highly regarded, and children are expected to take care of their parents as long as they live.
~~~
Today, most Uzbeks are Sunni Muslims who also practice folk Islam, which includes various animistic practices. A significant minority also claims not to be religious, as a result of communist influence.
Few Christians with a Living Faith
In Tashkent most of the people from European ethnic minority groups call themselves Christians. However there are less than 10,000 (5,000 to 10,000 nationwide) who have a real living faith.
Evangelizing Muslims is prohibited. Persecution of practicing Christians from both the government and society is very real. Uzbek believers have received very harsh treatment, including beatings and torture.
Prayer guide for Tashkent, Uzbekistan:
* Tashkent is being prepared for a church-planting movement through good training of believers. Pray that each of the city’s 11 districts will be evangelised.
* Uzbek believers are learning to use their homes as a place to be hospitable to the body of Christ. Pray that the believers of Tashkent would be even more active, bold, intentional and Spirit-filled.
* Some believers are getting a vision to multiply and proclaim the good news throughout Central Asia. Pray that the Church would go forth from Tashkent and be a healing agent in this hurting land.
AMEN!
~~~
Isaiah 50 (NKJV)
4
“ The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.
5
The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away.
6
I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.
7
“ For the Lord GOD will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.
NOTE:
WHAT a glorious opportunity—that God wants to wake us to teach us Himself through personal relationship with God in the Spirit by the Lord Jesus Christ!
Verses 6 and 7 prophecy the beating of our Lord Jesus before His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.
Ephesians 4 (NKJV)
22
that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23
and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24
and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
NOTE:
We have been created new creatures in Christ “in true righteousness and holiness” – or in “truth, righteousness and holiness”.
May we wait on the Lord. May we enter into that personal relationship with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of our Lord Jesus. Jesus paid such a horrible price on the Cross to pay for us to have a real relationship with Him in this world.
May we really see, with the eyes of the spirit and the eyes of faith, how much Jesus loves us and may we really see the Price that Jesus paid for us. Then, having that reality burned into our souls, we will love and forgive others as Jesus Himself has loved and forgiven us.
Vance
Posted by: | September 26, 2006 at 03:40 AM
5 You know my folly, O God;
my guilt is not hidden from you.
6 May those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me,
O Lord, the LORD Almighty;
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me,
O God of Israel
As christians we are called to be light to the world...yet sometimes we get it wrong.Maybe because we become over righteous,maybe due to lack of knowledge...immaturity etc.I pray we all learn to be tolerant and keep our eyes on God so he in turn can work with us to truly fulfil his purpose in us.
God bless you all
Posted by: Anka | September 26, 2006 at 11:15 AM