Getting God’s Attention

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, August 05, 2016
Chapters: Isaiah 57-59
Message: Getting God’s Attention

Hello My Friend,

People who do not know God take a look at the Bible and it is usually their reading of the Old Testament that they draw some conclusion that He is a mean, cruel, and evil God who strikes you down if you do not do as He says. This is a false narrative, yes, He is a just God and sometimes did strike down some rebellious, arrogant fool who was trying to cause trouble in order to put fear in others to keep them from following them, but He is also a merciful God. To understand God you have to think as if you were a creator, nothing gives you more joy than to see something You created evolve into something great, but what happens when one person decides to taunt you and destroy your hard work? I imagine, you get like I do, angry, disappointed, and in many cases, withdraw yourself from your work. Remember, we are created in God’s image, so, what we feel, He feels. What separates us from God, whether saved or not? Sin. And it always will.

“Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” - Isaiah 59:1,2.

The world sees all the evil taking place and who do they blame, God, they do not have to even believe in Him, but they believe He is mean and cruel if He allowed such evil things to happen. Do you know who walks right along side of the world who rejects God? Christians, well technically they are people who believe in God, living in sin, claiming they know God, but do not. We may not realize it, but God protects His people in many ways, and sometimes that means taking them out of their comfort zones, putting them in unfamiliar places, and in some cases even death. Through Isaiah, God gives the reason He was about to judge Judah, and send the majority of them to Babylon.

“The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.” - Isaiah 57:1,2,16-18.

“none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.” You have to think about this, how bad was it in Jerusalem for God to want to take His people out of their comfort zone and put them in Babylon, which was known for its idol worship? It must have been pretty corrupt. And by the way, God does not create wicked evil, man does, but He does do whatever He can to protect His own from suffering more than they have to. Those who really know God are those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and walk with Him daily, not when it is convenient, and not just to justify their sin. “For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” - I Peter 2:15,16.
Now, to the true and faithful, God is always ready to listen and hear us, He takes care of us in many ways that even we do not see, but we too have to be careful in how we approach God. Fasting may be one of the easiest and most effective ways to get God’s attention, but He even knows whether or not we are doing it for the right or wrong reason. Through Isaiah, He confronts those who seek Him for the wrong reasons.

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.” - Isaiah 58:1-4.

“ye fast for strife and debate,” Did you ever witness people going on a hunger strike? They protest something and vow not to eat until they get what they want? There is not a person in the world that does not wish evil upon someone who has wronged them, but that is not how God does things. If someone is doing us wrong, God wants us to take it to Him, and He will deal with it, when the time is right. I do not talk about this often because I do not want to boast in someones suffering, but my ex-boyfriend goes through more suffering than anyone I know, and I believe that it is God chastening him for all that he not only did to me, but also in using Him to keep deceiving me. God does want us to fast to get His attention, and He explains exactly fasting is for and how we are to fast.

“Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;” - Isaiah 58:5-9.

“the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.” Rereward, to gather for any purpose; hence to receive. When we fast to get God’s attention in matters that we just need His grace, comfort, wisdom, and guidance on, we not only get the answers we are looking for, we find the glory of God. Fasting is a way to shine the light of Christ on all we are in contact with, to stop thinking of our flesh and remember how merciful, gracious, and loving He is toward us while we are asking Him for something in particular, and taking care of others as well.

“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” - Matthew 6:16-18.

Every person here on earth is capable of doing something evil, no matter how good we were brought up, we all have some wickedness in us, and this is why we can never do enough good to measure up to God's standard. Through Isaiah, God explains this to the believing Jews who had gotten themselves caught up in the world, but also reminds them that He is always there for them.

“Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; 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.” - Isaiah 59:7-12,16.

“therefore his arm brought salvation unto him;” God is longsuffering, meaning patient in waiting for the very last soul to accept His Son before He sends Him to judge the world. God will save anyone who believes in His Son, and while He will never go back on His promise to redeem a save soul from hell, He will let them suffer in their sin. It is a painful life to live in sin being saved, but God's mercy endures. “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” - I Corinthians 15:56-58.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” - Isaiah 57:15.

Today's Prayer: God, I cannot fathom the amazing grace that You gave me and still give me every single day, to take a life that was a complete mess and turn it into one that has meaning is truly a miracle that only You can produce. Thank You, for seeing something in me that is of good use to you, thank you for your grace and mercy and never giving up on me. Lord, as I humble myself before You, be merciful to me, a sinner, lead me and guide me, help me to never cease from wanting Your attention on a daily basis, and when I fast, let me do it for Your glory. I love You Lord and ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Come One Come All

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Thursday, August 04, 2016
Chapters: Isaiah 52-56
Message: Come One Come All

Hello My Friend,

When you stop to think about all the years of struggle and triumphs you can see God’s hand in first getting us to trust Him, and secondly, getting us to put our faith and trust in His Son for our salvation. I will never forget the dark time in my life when I began thinking about God, whom I pushed to the side, I was making a pretty good living, but was a mess, suddenly I find myself walking into a church for the first time in years. Money is not the answer to life, if we trust God He will always provide us with the things we need, Christ is the answer to life, but we must seek Him while He may be found, because there will come a time when we will not be able to.

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” - Isaiah 55:1,2,6,7.

“and let him return unto the LORD,” Many saved, born again Christians can get caught up in the deceitfulness of the worlds riches, oh, we need to work, and we need to provide for ourselves and families, but we have to be careful not to let it consume us. Let me tell you, God never lets one of His faithful go a day without the necessities of life, He always finds a way to provide for us, it is when we become more obsessed about the money coming in that we lose sight of Him and turn away from Him. Does God love us any less? No. He will always love us, and He will always take care of us, but the key is turning to Him for help. Through Isaiah, God reminds Israel and all to turn to Him.

“Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” - Isaiah 52:1-3,7-10.

“Ye have sold yourselves for nought;” It is easy to get caught up in the world, especially when you find yourself in a struggle, it is not so easy to get out of a situation once we get in it. Jesus does not care about our past, He cares about our future, which is why He came here in the first place. We do not need to sell ourselves out to get the things we need and even desire, but one thing is clear, we can return to God and be redeemed, no questions asked. Praise God! Through Isaiah we continue to see some amazing prophecies about Jesus, we get a little more insight into His life and crucifixion. It is incredible to read about this and realize that it happened exactly as it is written here.

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” - Isaiah 53:4,5,10-12.

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him;” As Christians we are going to get bruised, sometimes from the things we cause on our own, other times just for being a Christian, but God allows this because He knows where our end will be. Just like God already had written it in heaven that Jesus would suffer and die, He also wrote that He would arise and bruise Satan’s head, He writes every name in heaven that loves Him and chooses Him. Praise God!

“And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” - Luke 10:18-20.

Keep in mind that when we receive Christ as our Saviour, our transgressions are gone, no longer to be remembered, but if we do not know Him as our Saviour, while it may seems as though He is with us, He does not know us. Why? In order to know God we need to be redeemed, atoned for our sins. God makes His presence known to everyone through miracles and normal things like providing food and water, but He does it so we can turn to Him, He is not ours until we repent and turn to Him. Through Isaiah, God reminds all of us of His promise.

“For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” - Isaiah 54:7-10.

“For a small moment have I forsaken thee;” Forsake, To quit or leave entirely. At one point we are all forsaken by God, for us to be able to stand before God we need to be sin free, and while it may sound harsh, until our sins are removed we are forsaken. Years ago, animal sacrifices were made for a person to be temporarily redeemed so they can stand before God. Jesus changed all that when He went to the cross and gave His own sinless life, now all who believe in and receive Him are redeemed permanently, He never leaves nor forsakes us. Praise God! However, it is still important to live a life that is pleasing to God so that we can bring others to Him.

“Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.” - Isaiah 56:1-5.

“Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name” How awesome is God that He considers everyone! It is man who decides whether or not a person is worthy enough to even be considered to join the church, but Jesus says, come one, come all. There is something we must consider, while redemption before Christ followed ceremonies (Passover and other feasts) and sacrifices to redeem them they were a foreshadow of Christ, He was just as merciful to them as He is us. We are going to mess up, we are going to struggle in this life, that only means we have something great ahead of us in our new home with Christ. Praise God! So, when we take care of God, He takes care of us, just change your mindset, and we will receive much more than we ever need.

“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” - Ephesians 3:19-21.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” - Isaiah 53:5.

Today's Prayer: Jesus, It is comforting and sometimes quite overwhelming to comprehend Your love for us, no matter how many times we mess up, how many times we lack faith, or want to give up on this life, that You never leave nor forsake us. You do not limit Your love to just a few, You call everyone and accept all that believe in Your sinless death, burial, and resurrection as the only thing needed to be redeemed and know Your Father. Lord, since we are all work in progress, lead us and guide us, keep us close to You so we can endure every trial that comes our way. Let us trust in You alone and not our circumstances, trusting that You will always provide us with what we need and even more than that. I love You Jesus and pray in Your name, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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A Voice For God

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, August 03, 2016
Chapters: Isaiah 49-51
Message: A Voice For God

Hello My Friend,
You know, when we serve God, we are His voice speaking through our very own, which is why so many people are deceived, they think anyone who talks about God is telling the truth, when sadly they are not. So, how can we stand out from the crowd and be God’s true voice? Be fruitful.

“For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” - Luke 6:43-45.

Sometimes I imagine what it would have been like if I was right in the center of Jerusalem hearing Isaiah speak, here this man is speaking about someone who is going to redeem Israel, and in fact, someone else begins speaking through him. Through Isaiah we witness something that no one could ever understand unless you studied the Scriptures, this is God, the Father having a conversation with His Son, who would not only be a light to the Jews, but Gentiles also. This servant wonders if his labor will be in vain because Israel will reject him.

“Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God. And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.” Isaiah 49:4-7.

“saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant,” This is proof that Jesus and God are one in the same. I imagine Jesus, in the form of man did wonder if He was giving His life in vain, He did pray to His Father knowing that He was about to be captured to take the cup He was to bare, He also said, not my will, but thine. There are things in our flesh that we do not want to do, but in the Spirit of God, we can do all things. Never let anyone tell you that your work for God is in vain, nothing we do for God is worthless. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” - I Corinthians 15:58.
Although God knew that most of the Jews would reject Jesus, He never gave up on them, they were His people, never forgetting the promise He made to Abraham. God makes a promise to all who love Him, He will never leave them.

“But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.” - Isaiah 49:14-18.

“they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.” God is not the God of the Jews or Gentiles, He is the God of all who believe in Him and are reconciled with Him (redeemed). While back then ceremonies and observances were necessary to be redeemed and reconciled with God, they are no longer necessary today, Jesus changed that on the cross. Through Isaiah we get some insight as to what Jesus would be dealing with through His crucifixion.

“The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.” - Isaiah 50:4-10.

“therefore shall I not be confounded:” Confound, To mingle and blend different things, so that their forms or natures cannot be distinguished. We must admit that we are not so good at being one of God’s voices, we try to live right, but since we have this flesh our right is not always His right. That is where the Holy Spirit comes in, He indwells every believer and teaches them to hear what God is saying, and how to explain it to us and the world. Many will reject us like they reject Christ, we are of Christ and that is why they reject us, because we are not confounded to this world. However, once in a while we will get the attention of a lost soul who finds Christ, and that is what it is all about, to bring one more soul to Christ. We cannot always be in the will of God, but we can to reach others to Christ.

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” - James 5:19,20.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and God Himself, could have came up with any other way to save man, He chose to become man, to be subjected to sin and the devil, He gave His power over to His Father, subjecting Himself to temptation, hunger, poverty, and pain. He could have let man suffer their own judgment only to be cast into hell, yet He chose to be the sinless sacrifice that would save all who believe in Him. Even through Isaiah, He pleads with all to come to Him, before it is too late.

“Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.” - Isaiah 51:1-5.

“For the LORD shall comfort Zion:” Zion, the habitation of peace. One day, all who are redeemed will join Jesus in Zion. I use to think that no person is capable of changing their ways, but One person can change anyone, and that is Jesus. No, He cannot force Himself upon us, no one can, but when we allow Him to come into our lives and live in it, He truly does change our ways of doing and even thinking things. How do I know this? He changed me. By the words of Paul who once captured Christians for prosecution.

“I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:12,13. We can do this through Christ!

Jesus Christ Magnified: “And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.” - Isaiah 49:26.

Today's Prayer: Jesus, As much as I thank You for saving me from hell and my sin, I still do not comprehend all that You have done for me. It's so overwhelming that You died for me to save me from something I have every right to be punished for. Thank You, Jesus. I know there is nothing I can do to repay You, but I love You, and want to give honor to You. You are my Lord and Savior, there is no other, and I am glad that there is no other. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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One God, One Nation Under God

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, August 01, 2016
Chapters: Isaiah 42-45
Message: One God, One Nation Under God

Hello My Friend,

There are three forms of Israel, the county of Israel, the children of Israel (Jacob), and the nation of Israel. The country, once Canaan, was personally given to the children of Israel for an inheritance, whom He had chosen to be His people to not only prove to the world that He is the only living God and Creator of all, but that He never goes back on His promises. He uses the nation of Israel (the saved) to prove that Jew and Gentile alike are united under the same God, by which today we are joined with through Jesus Christ. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we are become part of the nation of Israel, therefore we are children of God, and of Israel, and Abraham too.

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” - Galatians 3:26-29.

Religions all over the world claim they know God, they follow all sorts of rules, do all these rituals, pray, read some spiritual book, and even cry out to Him, but all of those works will do nothing if we do not know Him. To know God we need to be redeemed (forgiven of our sins), no amount works will get His attention unless we have made an atonement for our sins. Jews and Gentiles (those not of the children of Israel) alike have been told of heaven and hell and that one, and only Saviour could redeem them. Through Isaiah, God has a message for Jew and Gentile alike.

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.” - Isaiah 42:1,6-10.

“and my glory will I not give to another,” You want to get on God’s bad side? Start worshiping another god as if you are worshiping Him. By the way, unless you are worshiping the one and only living God that is written in the Old and New Testaments you are worshiping a false god. Also, unless you know Jesus Christ personally as your Saviour you do not know God.

“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” - I John 5:10-13.

Through Isaiah, God reminds Israel that He created them and they are His people, but if you read carefully you will see that He was not only talking about the children of Israel here, but the nation of Israel as well.

“For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel. Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.” - Isaiah 43:3-5,22-26.

“but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins,” Many Jews make the mistake of believing that because they are Jews they are automatically saved. This is false, we all face judgment, and God confirms this. We are not saved by race, religion, or works, we are saved by atonement, and today, it is the shed blood of the Lord, Jesus Christ, who gave His life for all who believe in Him. Blood was always necessary for atonement, Jesus made it permanent.

“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” - Hebrews 9:11,12,17,18.

God used Israel to be a witness that the most stiffnecked, hardhearted, people can turn their fate around when they trust the only living God. The same is true for the Christian today, we are not saved by our works, but by believing in our Saviour, our God, our King, our LORD, Jesus Christ. We are witnesses also, that Christ can turn our fate around, and not only that, but bless us tremendously when we trust Him and let Him be our King and Lord of our lives. Those who reject Christ reject God, and are not different than the Jews who reject Him, they are their own witnesses.

“Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.” - Isaiah 44:6,9,18-21.

“for he hath shut their eyes,” Ever wonder why some people are just oblivious to the truths of God? It is because God closes their eyes to it, which is why we pray for God to open their eyes. Remember the Pharaoh of Egypt when Moses tried to get him to set the Jews free, God hardened his heart until He was ready to let them go. God is always in control, and while He does not mess with our free will, He does harden hearts that have no intention of receiving Him, but will use anyone to get willing hearts to see He is the only God.

“I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it. Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.” - Isaiah 45:5-9,22,23,25.

“In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified,” God is talking about all the spiritual seed of Israel, whether Jew or Gentile, we are all the offspring of God through Jesus Christ, making us one seed, one nation of Israel. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” - Romans 8:16,17.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts;” - Isaiah 44:6a.

Today's Prayer: God, In a world full of false religion it is comforting to know that no religion or race is necessary to save me from my sins. You alone, came here in the form of Your Son, Jesus Christ to redeem all who believe in and receive Him, as their Saviour permanently, and that is enough for me. I am one of Yours because I believe in Your Son, and while I know nothing I do on this earth can save me, I do want to live me life through Your Son as a way to thank You for making such a great sacrifice. Lord, let me be a godly witness for all to see Your Son in me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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