Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
Feb. 23, 2025
Isaiah 43:9-13
9 All the nations are gathered together; the peoples are assembled. Which of them announced this? Who predicted to us the past events? Let them bring their witnesses as a defense; let them hear and say, “It’s true!” 10 You are my witnesses, says the LORD, my servant, whom I chose, so that you would know and believe me and understand that I am the one. Before me no god was formed; after me there has been no other. 11 I, I am the LORD, and there is no savior besides me. 12 I announced, I saved, I proclaimed, not some stranger among you. You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and I am God. 13 From the dawn of time, I am the one. No one can escape my power. I act, and who can undo it?
Good Morning. Praise be to God, the Almighty!
10 You are my witnesses, says the LORD, my servant, whom I chose, so that you would know and believe me and understand that I am the one.
To witness is to see or proclaim something about which you know. In law, a witness is someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion, provides testimonial evidence, either oral or written, of what they know or claim to know. What you know or claim to know is an interesting qualifier to the definition.
In court, a witness might be an innocent bystander who just happened to be in that space at that time. They didn’t plan to be witnesses; it just happened. Others are called expert witnesses. They didn’t see the accident or the event, but they have knowledge that can be used to discern what happened.
This discussion leads us to the idea that just because we see something doesn’t mean we know anything. For example, there might have been a mechanical failure discovered only through careful investigation.
So, what does the prophecy mean that we are the Lord’s witnesses? Has anyone of us actually seen God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit? Obviously, those who lived during Jesus' time on earth saw the human form of Jesus, but beyond them, no one. People use words like the hand of God, which was evident in the event, or God came to me in a dream. Are there current-day prophets with whom God interacts?
What physical evidence are we to use as witnesses in our defense of God? Certainly, we have the earth and universe of which we are a part, but scientists work as expert witnesses to defy our knowledge. How are we expected to witness or testify to God’s existence?
The essence of God lives in the realm of the unexplainable, like the Christ candle that doesn’t melt on the altar table when the fire consumes everything else. We are to witness to what we “know” because of our faith journey through our relationship with God. To God be the Glory!
Loving Lord, Maker of all things! You love us! You call us to share our witness as your children. Help us when we feel unable to put our testimony into words. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God gives us the words we need to share his love.
Your life is your testimony! Pastor Liz
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