Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
May 11, 2023
Isaiah 40:6-11
6 A voice was saying: “Call out!” And another said, “What should I call out?” All flesh is grass; all its loyalty is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass dries up and the flower withers when the LORD’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass dries up; the flower withers, but our God’s word will exist forever. 9 Go up on a high mountain, messenger Zion! Raise your voice and shout, messenger Jerusalem! Raise it; don’t be afraid; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10 Here is the LORD God, coming with strength, with a triumphant arm, bringing his reward with him and his payment before him. 11 Like a shepherd, God will tend the flock; he will gather lambs in his arms and lift them onto his lap. He will gently guide the nursing ewes.
Good Morning; God’s word is forever!
The prophet Isaiah brings comfort to God’s people in Chapter 40. The general theme of the first eleven verses is The Word of the LORD prepares the way of the LORD. In verses 1-2, words of comfort, “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!”. In vs. 3-5, the well-known words that foretell John the Baptist's call to prepare for the Lord, The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.”
In verses 6-11, we are reminded of our own human frailty. More importantly, despite our weaknesses, our God will protect us forever. The message is the permanence of God and His word. In contrast to man's frailty and fleeting glory (The grass withers, the flower fades), the word of our God endures.
Theologian David Guzik writes, “The word of our God certainly has endured. It has survived centuries of manual transcription, of persecution, of ever-changing philosophies, of all kinds of critics, of neglect both in the pulpit and in the pew, of doubt and disbelief – and still, the word of our God stands forever.”
Peter uses these words of the prophet Isaiah to remind us of the importance and permanence of the Word. “We should love one another this way: having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:23-25)
No matter what, God’s Word prevails over time and space, and by His Holy Covenant with us, his chosen people, we are invited to accept the gift of eternal life. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection, you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit. Hallelujah, Amen!
Blessed God, We thank you for Your blessings. Your word is a lamp unto our feet. Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Take time to appreciate God’s Word today.
God’s Word is everlasting! Pastor Liz
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