Isaiah 43:10-13 – Who Shall Let It?

Isaiah 43:10-13 
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

The Lord asks a question in verse 13 that really needs no answer and yet everyone should carefully consider it; “I will work and who shall let it?”  The word ‘let‘ here is the Hebrew word ‘shub‘ and carries the idea of turning back.  If the Lord does a thing, who is able to turn that thing back?  All things exist at the Lord’s discretion and all things persist at the Lord’s discretion.  He didn’t need permission from anyone to create the universe (Genesis 1:1) and He doesn’t need anyone’s permission to judge this universe. (2 Timothy 4:1)  If you look around and don’t see God, you might be able to convince yourself that He is not there or that He is not watching, but it’s Him.  It’s always been Him, and there is no other god with Him. (Deuteronomy 32:39)

James 1:13-15 – Drawn Away To Temptation

James 1:13-15
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
  
Oscar Wilde was once quoted as saying, “I can resist everything but temptation.”  How true I’ve found that idea to be in my own life.  I can breeze right past a million potential sins in the course of the day, but that’s because certain sins do not appeal to me.  None of those “victories” prepare me for when I’m faced with something that truly tempts me.  All of my supposed strength fades and falling into the temptation feels like welcoming back an old friend.  What does James warn is the cause of this?  It’s not God but, rather, it’s a result of being drawn away from God. (v.14)  The further we get from Him, the more alluring ungodliness will become which is why James also warns us of our need to draw near to God. (James 4:8)  Like sheep following a Shepherd, we’ll lose our way if we don’t stay right next to Him.

Psalm 107:1 – Give Thanks Unto The Lord

Psalm 107:1
1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

-The idea of being thankful is high on everyone’s list this time of year.  We are often asked to share what we are thankful for, but I think a better question would be who are we thankful to?  When you give thanks do you have someone in mind deserving of your gratitude or are you just throwing thankfulness vibes out into the atmosphere?  If you think about it, the idea of expressing gratitude is really a two-party deal.  Thankfulness, by nature, should be directed towards a benefactor.  James 1:7 teaches that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.”  If you have been blessed and feel grateful, remember that it wasn’t the random chance of a cold universe that provided your blessings, it was the Lord. (Psalm 136)

Matthew 4:18-22 – They Left Their Nets

Matthew 4:18-22
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
 
-There is a recurring theme in scripture of people leaving things behind as they make the decision to follow Jesus.  This is important and designed to show us that we too will have to make similar decisions in our own life.  The Way of Christ is a narrow way and there are a great many things that simply will not fit as we travel the path.  The Bible goes on at length teaching that we cannot serve God and another master (Matthew 6:24), we cannot please God and please people (Galatians 1:10), and we cannot have friendship with God and be a friend to the world. (James 4:4)   There are plenty of lessons that speak to each of our individual situations, but the main lesson is this: Jesus Christ has the power to turn us into a whole new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and that new creature has no business carrying around the things of the old.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 – The Conclusion of the Whole Matter

Ecclesiastes 12:13
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

-Solomon had wealth and power enough to make anything possible.  He came to a point in his life when he decided to use all of his wealth and power to do exactly that; anything.  After experiencing all that life had to offer, his conclusion is recorded here in Ecclesiastes 12:13.  Let this same mindset be in you in your daily life.  When you feel the urge to fall in love with the things of the world, resist.  When you have the opportunity to cheat, play it straight.  When you have cause to get angry, don’t.  When life invites you down an evil path, abstain.  Not because you desire to cling to a higher moral fiber, but because you wish to show respect to God and His providence.  The Lord can provide contentment even if you don’t have all the niceties of this life.  He can make honest people excel past cheaters.  He can provide perfect peace to those who struggle to resist anger.  To those who turn away from the paths of the ungodly, “it shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” (Proverbs 3:8)

Psalm 130:5-6 – Wait On The Lord

Psalm 130:5-6
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

-Have you ever found yourself in a circumstance that was going so poorly, your biggest wish was that it would just end?  I’m sure most of us have, just as I’m sure many of us have said or thought that very thing.  “I wish this would hurry up and be over.”  I’m dealing with a situation like that right now.  It will continue to be a problem for the rest of this year, and, over the past few days, I have found myself saying, “I just need to get to 2023.”  When we are in the middle of the dark night, it’s human nature to long for the morning.  But notice David’s reaction when he found himself in dark situations.  Instead of waiting for the morning, he waits for the Lord.  That’s a tremendous and humbling example for us to follow.  I know it shook me when the Lord pointed out how I’ve been reacting to my situation.  By longing for 2023, I’ve essentially been waiting for the morning of this whole year.  By becoming so focused on my problem, I’ve not been as focused on the Lord.  Do I still want this circumstance to end?  Sure.  But I don’t want to miss out on God’s grace and the blessings He has planned for me while I’m in the midst of it.  The next time you find yourself in a heavy circumstance, remember David’s example and don’t look for the end, look for the Lord who will be right in the middle with you.  “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14)  

Isaiah 59:15-16 – Salvation Essentials

Romans 3:10-12
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
 
Isaiah 59:15-16
15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
 
2 Timothy 1:9-10
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
 
-Salvation.  Mankind needed it.  God desired it.  Jesus Christ provided it.

Matthew 26:36-42 – The Feeling of Infirmity

Matthew 26:36-42
36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
 
–Deuteronomy 6:4 tells us that “The LORD our God is one LORD.”  While a Triune Godhead may not be 1 in number, They most certainly must be 1 in purpose and harmony.  That means if God the Father willed that God the Son must die for the sins of mankind (John 3:16), then God the Son must have been of the same will.  Before the foundations of the universe were laid, Jesus as God made that choice (1 Peter 1:20), but when He got to the garden of Gethsemane as a Man, He asked if there was any way possible to avoid it (v.39).  Why did He make such a request?  In Heaven, God would have had complete, omniscient knowledge of pain and suffering, but only as a Man could the Lord truly experience those things.  That’s why Hebrews 2:10 tells us that Jesus was made complete through suffering and why Hebrews 4:15 tells us that He is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities.”  That our Creator, with full knowledge of pain and suffering, would choose to endure such agony for us is a truth big enough to light the world on fire; but that same Creator choosing to go through with it after He had such felt pain and suffering…  I don’t have any words for that.

Philippians 2:5-11 – Let This Mind Be In You

Philippians 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
 
“And being found in fashion as a man.” There came a day in Jesus’ life when He was no longer just Divine, He had become human.  Can you imagine what that must have been like for the Lord?  It’s hard for us to imagine because we’ve always been human, but to go from existing beyond pain, suffering, and circumstance to falling right into the middle of those things must have been shocking, to say the least.  Essentially, this verse is telling us that Jesus found Himself in a very distressing situation.  What do we do when we find ourselves in bad situations?  Usually, the first thing is to get indignant about the whole thing or maybe try to deny it altogether.  Next, we try to find someone else to blame for what has happened to us.  What was the first thing Jesus did?  He humbled Himself.  Next, He became obedient.  Did he become obedient to the men and women around Him?  No.  Did he become obedient to His circumstances?  No.  Jesus became obedient to His Father in Heaven.  He told Satan, “it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Luke 4:8)  Philippians 2 gives us great insight into the mind of the Lord.  It makes sense that the mind of the Lord is the picture of peace and control while He is in Glory and His will is absolute, but here we see the mind of the Lord on earth when He is subject to the circumstances around Him.  What do we find?  His mind is still the picture of peace and control.  “Let this mind be in you.” (v5)

Hebrews 11:1-2 – The Importance of Faith

Hebrews 11:1-2
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Matthew 13:54, 57-58
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

-If you are not familiar with the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, it is a who’s who of the spiritual giants from throughout Biblical history.  Consider the giants of faith described in Hebrews 11, now consider that for every one of these faithful men and women, there are hundreds of examples of similar people who failed in similar circumstances because they lacked faith.  That’s the hidden lesson of Hebrews 11, not who made it in, but how many didn’t.  There are only 16 names mentioned in Hebrews 11.  16 from the time of Adam until the time of the early church.  Now certainly there are other groups who are mentioned and still more who could have been included; but still, think about the countless people whose names aren’t there.  Not because they weren’t rich enough or strong enough, but because of unbelief.  Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please [God].”  Does the Lord sound pleased in the above scripture from Matthew 13?  More importantly, when the Lord steps on the scene in your life, is He pleased with what He finds?