Clothed In Righteousness

Scripture:

Isaiah 3:13-15(NIV)

The Lord takes his place in court;
    he rises to judge the people.
The Lord enters into judgment
    against the elders and leaders of his people:
“It is you who have ruined my vineyard;
    the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
What do you mean by crushing my people
    and grinding the faces of the poor?”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

Devotional:

God’s judgement, people seem to think it isn’t real.  In verse 11 it says, “Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them!  They will be paid back for what their hands have done.”  The bible makes it clear that the wicked, evil, and unrighteous will be judged.  Who is that?  Well to be honest, that is everyone.  Romans 3:23 (NIV) “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” yes it does means each one of us. 

The Israelites are God’s chosen people, yet they faced judgement.   Why is that?  They forgot who they were.  They became self-seeking.  Isaiah 3:12 states, “Youths oppress my people, women rule over them.  My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.”  Because of leadership the entire nation was being led astray.  Because of this God was preparing judgement upon the people.

Romans 3:23 states all have sinned and fall short.  This means that each and everyone of us faces God’s judgement.  But there is good news.  Isaiah 3:10 says, “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.”  Those that are righteous will be blessed and spared God’s judgement.  Actually, the righteous have a substitute for their judgement.  Romans 3:24, “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  Those who are of faith, believe in Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Savior, will become justified.  They will become righteous.  Our rags are exchanged for His righteousness.  Jesus took upon Himself our judgement upon the cross.

Will you stand before judgement alone?  Will you stand before judgement clothed in the righteousness of Christ?  The choice is yours.

Not To Stray...

Scripture:

Isaiah 3:8-9 (ESV)

For Jerusalem has stumbled,
    and Judah has fallen,
because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord,
    defying his glorious presence.

For the look on their faces bears witness against them;
    they proclaim their sin like Sodom;
    they do not hide it.
Woe to them!
    For they have brought evil on themselves.

Devotional:

Here Isaiah shares the reasoning behind the suffering and fall of Israel.  In short, the people left their first and true love.  They lost site of God.  They failed to adhere to God’s teachings.  The end of verse 9 says “…For they have brought evil on themselves.”  From the beginning God told the Israelites that as long as they stayed true to Him and He was their first love they would be blessed.  In fact, as a nation they were blessed.  Israel was a world power with untold riches.  In the end though they strayed.  Earlier in verse 9 Isaiah writes “…they proclaim their sin like Sodom;…”

It does seem that those who are evil or do bad things are on top.  They have power, wealth, and everything they could ever want.  It may be true that for a time it they are the ones who get ahead or come out on top.  But eventually it will catch up to them.  Eventually they too will fall.  Remember Romans 14:11 (ESV) “for it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’”  Like it or not, believe it or not, Jesus is the ultimate authority.  He does reign supreme.  Those who only seek for themselves and live as they please will confess Jesus is Lord.  They will fall. 

It is important to keep our focus on Christ.  We need to follow His teachings.  We cannot afford not to.  God is with us.  He will bless us and provide.  In the end we will have an eternity to be with Him.  Israel lost sight of God and it cost them dearly.  Do you really want to do the same?  Keep in mind that even if we cannot see it God is with us.  We just need to keep from straying.    

From Blessings to Judgements

Scripture:

Isaiah 3:1-4 (ESV)

For behold, the Lord God of hosts
    is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah
support and supply,
    all support of bread,
    and all support of water;
the mighty man and the soldier,
    the judge and the prophet,
    the diviner and the elder,
the captain of fifty
    and the man of rank,
the counselor and the skillful magician
    and the expert in charms.
And I will make boys their princes,
    and infants shall rule over them.

Devotional:

When the Israelites left Egypt, they were promised great things if they stayed the course with God.  All they had to do was stay true to Him and in His ways.  Israel ended up wandering in the desert for forty years because they failed to trust God and fully follow His commands.  During the times of the judges they had good times when they all turned to God.  They had bad times when they strayed from God.

After king Solomon God gave the Israelites warnings and sent profit after profit to get His people back.  Isaiah is giving warning of what is to come.  God is going to remove His blessings.  In fact, He is going to take everything away to get His people to refocus on Him.  He is going to remove all competent leadership. 

One of my thoughts on this comes to a belief I have.  God does not call those who are qualified.  In fact, the less you know or can do the better.  I know you are asking why He would not call someone flowing with qualifications.  Let’s take a look at war.  If you go to war and you have the best generals and military leaders who gets the credit?  If you are honest with yourself, you would say the military leaders.  After all we credit winning the civil war in great parts to General Grant.  In WWII we give Eisenhower a ton of credit.  But where is God?  Take a look at Gideon.  He was the least of his clan.  His clan was the least of the Israelites.  He new nothing about leading people or fighting battles.  But look at what he accomplished.  It wasn’t because of what Gideon did.  It was what God did.

In Isaiah’s time Israel more often than not strayed from God.  They strayed so much so for so long God finally withdrew His blessings and placed judgement upon them.  In these first verses of chapter three God is taking everything away from them.  He even removes competent and instrumental leaders.  Instead he allowed anyone to become a leader.  Qualifications to lead were not much more than you are breathing and able to stand upright. (This is my wording for the first few verses in Isaiah 3.)

I think the reasons for what God is going here is two-fold.  First the people are no longer blessed and have fallen into God’s judgement.  Second, I believe this is an attempt to get His people to return and rely upon Him.  I will end with this small thought.  To fix any problem or overcome any situation all you need to do is focus on God.  Any family, community, or nation can be fixed and blessed if they only turn to God.  All you need is to trust and obey…

Treasures Not Junk

Scripture:

Exodus 19:4-5 (ESV)

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.  Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;

Devotional:

The Israelites have just left Egypt.  They just saw God’s miracles and the plagues.  They were delivered right out of Pharaoh’s hands and into freedom.  God tells Moses that He “bore you on eagles wings.”  It wasn’t a maybe God did something to help.  Or I might have seen His hand here or there.  God delivered them and brought them to Himself.  Here he is saying that if you obey me and keep my ways you will be my people.

What could possibly be better than that?  To be God’s own personal treasure.  Imagine being one of His most prized possessions.  Thinking about this I ponder a little girl with her dolls.  Out of many dolls she has certain ones that are her favorites.  There is that one doll she will tote everywhere.  It goes to the store.  It is carried out to the park to play.  Off on vacations with the family.  That one little doll is special above all the rest.

Guess what, you are that doll.  In God’s eyes you are the treasured one above the rest.  By believing in Christ and accepting the truth in the Gospels you are set apart from the rest.  As Christians we are favored.  God loves all people and wants everyone to accept Christ as the savior of the world.  But only those that accept are among the chosen ones.  Only those who accept have a special place in Heaven.  Remember WE are a treasure not junk…

God is Already There

Scripture:

Exodus 14: 10-14 (ESV)

When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord.  They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?  Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”  And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.  The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Devotional:

Exodus chapter fourteen the Egyptians pursue Israel and both sides believe that the Israelites are trapped.  In fact, the Israelites complain to Moses.  Why did you bring us here?  We are just going to die out here.  What the Israelites do not see is what God has planned.  Moses follows God’s commands and in the end the Israelites are safe, dry, and on the opposite side of the water from what remained of the Egyptians that pursued them.

Unlike us God sees the big picture.  When it appears that we are trapped.  We are against the shore on one side and an army on the other side and all seems hopeless.  We are not defeated.  What no one sees is God’s army around us.  If we rely upon Him, He will fight for us.  Verse 14, “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”  We do not have to worry or fret.  We do not have to plan the battle or even go fight.  God will fight for us.  He is our protector and provider. 

This doesn’t mean we can just sit back in our rocking chairs and do nothing.  After all, where would the Israelites have been had they just sat in their homes in Egypt?  Well, they would still be in Egypt.  Instead they did as God instructed.  They packed up and left.  They were not idle.  We cannot be idle either.  God is calling us to get up and go. 

What does that look like?  Where do we go?  To be honest I don’t know.  It is different for each of us.  But each of us are called to do something.  Some may be called to go to China, or somewhere in South America.  Other people might be called to Europe, or even in North America.  Most of us are called right where we are.  But one fact remains, each of us is called.  Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” this verse is not for just a few.  This is for each and everyone of us. 

We have nothing to fear.  God will fight for us.  We can’t just sit by and do nothing.  Each of us is called to go.  The Egyptians were told to go.  They picked up and went.  Missionaries all over the world hear the call to go.  They too got up and went.  Some are called to go right where they are.  Some called to go somewhere else.  If you are not sure just read the Bible and pray.  God will guide you.  You can also start right where you are.  Take one step at a time.  You might just end up right where you are.  But you will be there with a purpose.  Be intentional in what you do.  We are called and God is with us.  There are no if then statements.  It is not either or. 

Simply put God calls, we answer, he provides and protects.  Even if it doesn’t seem like it God is there.  He is waiting on us.  The Israelites thought it was hopeless.  They thought they were going to die by the shore.  God didn’t just show up to save them.  God was already there.  He was already at work.  They just had to be faithful, listen, and obey.