From: September 23, 2024
“Set forth your case, says the Lord; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them” (Isaiah 41:21-22 ESV).
The idolatry of today is not unlike that of Isaiah’s day. Explanations of origins were offered by the prophets of Baal. They offered materialistic creation stories and led the people to “exchange the truth about God for a lie, so that they worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator” (Rom. 1:25). They built idols made in the image of bulls, birds and other created things and led the people to bow down to them as gods. The people of Israel exchanged their worship of the LORD and put their faith in idols that were made with human hands.
Sounds pretty superstitious and archaic doesn’t it. Surely we know better than to bow down to such silliness. Yet, we have fallen for the similar materialistic explanations for origins today. The prophets of the philosophy of naturalism have clothed themselves in the robes of science and convinced us that there is no need for a supernatural God. For all things can be explained through natural processes. They attempt to “tell us the former things” by inserting the name “evolution” or “nature” in the place where the name “God” belongs. We’re really just as idolatrous as those in Isaiah’s day. Our idols and “proofs” are just more complex and insidious than theirs were.
Yet we have been given more than God’s natural revelation through His creation. We have been given His specific revelation through His Word. And we don’t have to read far into His book to know the truth of our origin. For it opens with the words: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). Any explanation that varies from this is idolatry. Those who consider the natural evidence in light of this revealed truth will be convinced and finally worship the Lord as our Creator.
PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us for lowering our eyes to worship created things rather than lifting them up to You, our Creator. We ask that You open the eyes of our people that they might recognize the false philosophy of naturalism that masquerades as science for the lie that it is. We are broken hearted for the idolatry in our land. Bring us to repentance and reveal Yourself to us afresh by Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 23, 2023
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).
We cannot earn salvation, but having received it by God’s grace through faith, we become God’s “masterpiece” (Greek: “poiema”). In Christ, we become God’s poem, His workmanship, His masterpiece. We are a new creation, therefore we begin to display the new nature in our daily walk, doing good works. Yet even here, this is not earning, but a working out of that which God is working in us (Phil. 2:12-13).
The model for this masterpiece is Jesus. If you ever wonder what God is up to with us, then look at Jesus. For God is at work in us, conforming us to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). As the apostle John wrote, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to work out what You’re working in us today. Strengthen us to walk by faith in the Spirit, bearing spiritual fruit. We trust Your work in us, knowing that You are making us like Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.
From: September 23, 2022
GOD IS THE SOURCE AND SUSTAINER OF LIFE
A worldview built on any other foundation than the dual truth that God is both Creator and Sustainer of life, will surely lead to false and foolish conclusions. The prophet Isaiah declared this dual truth and more. For the Lord revealed to him the coming of the Messiah, the One who would redeem from death those who believed in Him. So that in Christ, the title Redeemer must be recognized in addition to Creator (John 1:1-3) and Sustainer (Heb. 1:1-4). A right understanding of this truth leads to a more accurate worldview. Yet, the fullest understanding of truth is found in knowing and belonging to Jesus. For Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).
PRAYER: Dear Father, we give thanks to You for life. For even our next breath comes from You. You are our Source and Sustainer. We look to Your Son Jesus today as our Savior and Redeemer. For through faith in Him we have been adopted as Your children. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit. Empower us to boldly declare Your Name and Your Word to the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 23, 2016
God spoke through the prophet Isaiah reminding His chosen people of the glory due His name. He had revealed His covenantal name, Yahweh (יְהוָ֖ה or “Jehovah”), which means “I AM,” to them through Moses (Ex.3:14). English translations use all caps, “LORD,” to distinguish His name from the more generic use. He is “I AM,” the eternal, self-existent One. Not “I Was,” nor “I WILL BE,” but “I AM.” Without beginning or end, He stands outside of time. Not created, but Creator, He created all things including time itself, and He not only created all things, but sustains all things by His power. When we give our praise, our worship, to created things or manmade things, we deny the glory due the LORD. Let us give God the glory, the credit, due His name. All glory is due Him.
From: September 23, 2015
The Church is the people, not the steeple. Paul said that we are being “built on the foundation” of the New Testament apostles and the Old Testament prophets. And that Christ Himself is the “chief cornerstone.” We are the church. Not a place, but a people. Jesus is not only its cornerstone, He is also its builder. As He told Peter, “Upon this rock I will build My church” (Matt. 16:18). We are to “be” the church, while Christ “builds” it.