No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—
The ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—
1
Friday, July 07, 2023
OUR FATHER WHO IS OUR REFUGE
From Psalm 91
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty's throne
He will hide you in the shadow of His wings
Our God is our refuge we trust in Him alone.
He'll command His angels to guard all your ways
You'll be lifted up so your foot won't strike a stone
You won't fear the night nor the dart that flies by day
Our God is our refuge we trust in Him alone.
The Lord is my shield from harm and distress
And so no disaster will come near my home
He is my fortress and He is my dwelling place
Our God is our refuge we trust in Him alone.
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Thursday, July 06, 2023
OUR FATHER WHO SEARCHES OUT HIS PEOPLE
Isaiah chapter 65 verses 1 - 3 says this;
“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me.
To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’
All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations— a people who continually provoke me to my very face, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on altars of brick;
This passage reveals the obstacles that people put in the way of the Lord when He extends His invitation to them to be redeemed by Him.
The people are preoccupied with their own interests and are not searching for God but nonetheless, the Lord attempts to make Himself know to them and make Himself possible to be found by them.
However, the people are obstinate and are accustomed to their own paths and ambitions.
They routinely antagonize the Lord brazenly by continuing with their sacrifices in their gardens and burning incense on bricks rather than honoring the Lord in the temple.
These people will end ruin but for those who are the Lord's servants, they will have the Lord's blessings as Isaiah chapter 65 verse 18 says;
“But be glad and rejoice forever over what I create; Behold, I am creating Jerusalem to be a source of rejoicing And her people a joy.
Amen.
6
Wednesday, July 05, 2023
OUR FATHER FROM WHOM WE ARE SEPARATED BECAUSE OF OUR INIQUITY
Isaiah 59 verses 8 - 10 says this;
The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths.
They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace.
So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes.
At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead.
This passage describes the condition of the people of God after they turn to their own way and fall into sin and violence.
They cannot find peace even when they try to foster peace and every route they take is one of injustice and corruption. The paths to their destinies become crooked and as they follow these paths, they encounter calamity and distress.
In this state, the people cannot resolve the shape of justice and righteousness is entirely unattainable.
When the people try to regain their former elevated society, they are in perpetual darkness and are no longer able to perceive light.
They become like sightless people groping along the walls unable to find the way.
When there is plenty of light, they stumble around as if in the dark and when they run into opposition, they capitulate in weakness as though dead.
Such are those who navigate away from God their creator to seek their own roads.
Amen.
Tuesday, July 04, 2023
OUR FATHER WHO REDEEMED HIS PEOPLE.
Isaiah chapter 63 verse 10 says this;
Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit.
So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.
This verse describes the turning point in the relationship between the Lord and His people.
The Lord had been kind and merciful towards them and redeemed them out of bondage and led them to freedom even through the depths of the sea.
However, the people rebelled against Him and grieved the Holy Spirit of God.
The Lord became their enemy and resisted them.
It was at this time that the people of Israel began to recall their history and the favor of the Lord and remember when their God was in their midst and when all the astonishing signs and wonders occured before them.
They then asked the Lord to return for they were called by His name.
Amen.
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Monday, July 03, 2023
OUR FATHER WHOSE JUDGEMENT FALLS ON THE WICKED
Isaiah chapter 56 verse 9 says this;
Come, all you beasts of the field, come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
This verse is an invitation to the beasts of the field and the beasts of the forest to devour the wicked.
The shepherds of God's people should have been mindful of them and treated them when they were sick and bound their injuries.
Instead of doing these things, the shepherds devoured the substance of the people without searching for the lost and gathering the scattered.
The people got into this state of vulnerability because those who should have been watching over them were absent from their duties as Ezekiel chapter 34 verse 5 says;
They scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every animal of the field and scattered.
Without guidance, the Lord's people were scattered and were easy pray for the beasts that sought to devour them.
Watchmen over the Lord's people must remain vigilant