Bible In 90 Days – Day 49
Reading: Isaiah 1:1 – Isaiah 13:22
Take Away(s):
- Addiction. 1:1-9. I know this is talking about Judah and Jerusalem, but the language just struck me as sounding like someone who was addicted to something. Especially the question that verse 5 asked: “why do you keep on…?” It reminded me that just like Israel and Judah, we foolishly think we can bargain with God through our “changed” behavior and offer Him some halfhearted commitment and “it’s all better now, God!”. As we’ve read already, God has no use for the physical sacrifice offered – He desires obedience – and a changed heart. Sin is addicting – Spirit-lead conviction and worshipful obedience is freeing.
- Contrast. 1:18. What an amazing word picture of sin and God’s forgiveness.
- Meaningless. 2:6-9. When I read this, I thought back to Ecclesiastes and how the teacher wrote that everything is meaningless. How often we try to fill our lives with things, people, objects that bring fleeting pleasure and “meaning” to life. All the while, neglecting God. At some point…every knee will bow. We will be humbled.
- Undone. 6:5. Woe…”grievous distress, affliction, or trouble.” I can’t personally identify with the gravity of this word in my own life experience. Sure I have had some trying times, sorrow when my mom died, but nothing that seems to compare with the deepness of this word. I know God is approachable and personal; but at the same time, He is God. Would I be undone, completely undone if I were to suddenly be in His presence? Of course! Um, He is with me right now – does my attitude reflect someone who is undone?
- Hume. 6:8. The youth group from East Valley is at Hume Lake Camp this week. I remember being there and making this verse personal at the Victory Circle campfire pit on the last night of camp, maybe in my freshmen year. I committed to go or do whatever God wanted me to do. I had it written on the inside cover of my bible back then…not sure what happened to that bible. My life is and has been far from perfect – but I pray that even my stumbling and bumbling for Christ will be honoring of Him and the commitment I made back then. I think I will write that in the Bible I use now just as a continuing reminder. If you go to EVC, take some time each day this week to pray for the 14 young men and women at camp. Pray that God will be personal in their lives and that they will sense His calling in their lives. Friday is always the climax to the week – pray hard that night for each student.
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Bible In 90 Days – Day 50
Reading: Isaiah 14:1 – Isaiah 28:29
Take Away(s):
- Perfect. 26:3. I like the descriptor – not just any peace…PERFECT PEACE! I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t want perfect peace. The hard part is getting there…steadfast in God’s purposes. We’re just like Israel and Judah…oh so easily distracted by the things around us and the thought that God “can’t” or “won’t”, so “we better.” Help me to align my purposes with Your, Oh Lord. The benefit is so desirable.
- GRRRRRR. Isaiah, to date. The hard part about reading the Bible in 90 days, is that it is so intensive that you can’t really study passages. Reading on average 12 pages each day (more like 15 in the briefcase-size Bible I use), means that reading is all you can do – maybe catching the obvious or familiar truths and other things that the Holy Spirit illuminates in a particular day’s reading. I know I could spend a lot of time digesting and studying most passages – but, I have other obligations (work, wife,…sleep, etc.). I know God will honor this intensive reading – I already see the benefits. Really, it is a plus-plus: reading the bible in a continuous and intensive way to get the general interconnectedness of God’s amazing Word (HIStory) and having the Holy Spirit wet my appetite so that on day 91, I am in such a habit of spending a fair chunk of time in His word that doing that intensive study of the passages like the ones today in Isaiah is already a desired habit.
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