From: September 26, 2024
“I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God” (Isaiah 49:4 ESV).
Isaiah penned this as the Israel’s response to His appointment as God’s Messiah. For it would find its fulfillment some 700 years later in the ministry of Jesus Christ. For Christ’s ministry among the Jews might be considered of little success, since they ultimately rejected Him. It was as if all His “labor” and the expenditure of His “strength” was for “nothing.”
Jesus surely felt this way at times. For didn’t He cry out saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing” (Matt. 23:37).
Yet even though His earthly ministry may have appeared to be of little consequence at the time, Jesus also knew that His “right,” His just reward, was with the Father. He knew that the “recompense,” the payment for His work was in God’s hands. And so from what appeared to be failure, came the gospel message that turned the world upside down. From apparent defeat, came deliverance for all who would believe.
These words of the Messiah might also express the feeling of the church today. For Christ is our Head and we His body. I know that this verse became my prayer when I became a church planter. There was many a Monday morning (Monday mornings are often hard for pastors) when I would reflect on my labor from the previous week and feel that I had “labored in vain and spent my strength for nothing.” Then I would declare by faith, “Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”
When you feel unsuccessful in your work for the Lord, remember nothing you do for God is wasted. As the apostle Paul said, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).
PRAYER: Dear Father, when we feel like failures and we feel that we’ve spent our strength for nothing, help us to remember that nothing is wasted that we do for You. Multiply our loaves and fishes that we offer to You. For You make our work matter. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 26, 2023
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:29 NLT).
In a generation of course communication, we are to sound a different tone. The apostle Paul wrote that believers are to speak the “truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). What does this look like? Stop using “foul or abusive language” and start thinking about how your words can be an “encouragement” and blessing to those who hear them.
Jesus taught that our words are an expression of our heart condition, saying, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Do you speak for the edification of the hearer or to benefit yourself? Do you often need to just “air it out?” Or just get things “off your chest?” Do your words flow from a spiritually renewed heart, filled with the Holy Spirit? Or are they vomited forth from the old nature? Give your heart and your tongue to Jesus. Ask Him to tame your tongue and fill your communication with blessings and beauty.
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, fill our minds and mouths with Your Word. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit to help us govern our words with wisdom and self-control. May our language edify others and be always filled with the Good News unto salvation. Strengthen us this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 26, 2022
CHRIST’S LOVE FOR US IS STILL WRITTEN ON HIS HANDS
When Israel accused the Lord of forsaking them, He replied saying that He could never forget them. He compared Himself to a mother, saying, “Can a woman forget her nursing child?” Then, He said that He had “engraved” them on His hands. The word “engraved” might be translated “inscribed” or “written,” but literally means to “cut in.” He was essentially saying, “How can I forget you when I have a remembrance of you cut into the palms of My hands?”
Surely this was an encouraging word to the Israelites, but even more so to those who view it through the lens of the cross. For the scars of the nails still mark our Savior’s hands. As the risen Lord Jesus told Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:27).
The One with the nail-scarred hands will never leave, nor forsake us. His love for us is written on His hands.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that You love us. What a wonderful thing that You love us. Teach us to move in Your love. Help us to be conduits of Your love to others. Being confident in Your love, we move beyond our own comfort to love others. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 27, 2017
“I gave…” Who is this that would willingly submit and give himself to such torture? Written 800 years before His coming, only the Messiah, Jesus Christ, could be its fulfillment. The prophet Isaiah was entrusted with this prophecy of the Messiah as Suffering Servant. Jesus gave His back to be scourged by the Roman soldiers. He gave His cheeks to have His beard plucked out. He gave His face to be buffeted with fists, spit upon and scorned. Yet, He spoke not a word of complaint and looked not away “like a sheep led to the slaughter” (Acts 8:32). Jesus suffered for our sins just as the Scriptures foretold. He fulfilled over 300 prophetic Scriptures concerning the Messiah in every detail. Jesus is the One who “gave Himself for our sins” (Gal. 1:4).
From: September 26, 2016
When Israel accused the Lord of forsaking them, He replied saying that He could never forget them. He compared Himself to a mother, saying, “Can a woman forget her nursing child?” Then, He said that He had “engraved” them on His hands. The word “engraved” might be translated “inscribed” or “written,” but literally means to “cut in.” He was essentially saying, “How can I forget you when I have a remembrance of you cut into the palms of My hands?” Surely this was an encouraging word to the Israelites, but even more so to those who view it through the lens of the cross. For the scars of the nails still mark our Savior’s hands. As Jesus told Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands” (John 20:27). The One with the nail-scarred hands will never leave, nor forsake us.
From: September 26, 2015
Everything has a “seal” or a child-proof cap on it these days. Designed to insure that the right person opens it and that the wrong person can’t, these seals offer quality assurance to the purchaser. The Bible says that when we are saved that God seals us with His Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives us assurance of our salvation through Christ. Yet, when we sin, especially when we sin against fellow believers, it “grieves” the Spirit. It grieves God when we have unreconciled relationships. Having reconciled us to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ, and having sealed us with His Spirit, God has given us this ministry of reconciliation. We are to love God and others. This “grief” that we feel when we are not right with someone is further evidence of the Spirit’s seal. If you feel the Spirit’s grief today, move quickly to be reconciled and to feel His joy and peace again.