From: September 8, 2024
“He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4 ESV).
The Lord gave Isaiah a vision of the latter days when all nations will come to Jerusalem to worship, a day when the Lord Himself will judge and bring peace to the earth. In that day there will be no need for weapons of war. The wealth and works of the nations will no longer be wasted on mutual destruction, but gainfully expended in the worship of God and for mutual welfare. Even the study of war will be lost, so that mankind forgets the art. Such a day Isaiah saw and we still await its arrival.
A well known spiritual was often heard during my younger years entitled, “Down By the Riverside.” Its lyrics were full of biblical imagery, much of it from Isaiah’s prophecy. Here’s an excerpt:
I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield, down by the riverside
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside.
I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield, down by the riverside
And I ain’t gonna study war no more.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we wait with hope for that Day when Your Son returns and establishes peace on earth. Until then, we are Your ambassadors. Strengthen us for the battle. We take up our sword and shield, which is the Word of God and our faith, again today in Your name, until that Day when we lay them down at Your feet. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 8, 2023
“We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NLT).
Paul used military language to describe his spiritual warfare against worldly arguments and philosophies that are raised against the knowledge of God. He rightly recognized that the flesh (especially pride), the world, and the devil were allies in the spiritual battle for the minds of humanity. So he fought a spiritual battle to take every thought captive to obey Christ.
Have you recognized the battle for your mind? What’s true? What to believe? It’s difficult to be objective isn’t it? What we need is an external standard for absolute truth. We have it in the Word of God interpreted and applied to us by the Spirit of God. Or more simply, we have it in Christ Jesus. For He is the way, the truth and the life.
Every sin begins with a thought. Wrong thinking leads to wrong actions. Bring your thoughts and motives to the Lord. Get a firm grip on each thought and bring it into the light of Scripture. Ask the Lord to examine it. Does it cause anxiety or doubt? Ask the Lord to replace this thought with right thinking according to the knowledge of God. Replace every lie planted in your heads with a promise from God.
Are you worried about provision? Remember God is our great provider. Are you anxious about death? Remember that Jesus has defeated sin, death and the grave. We can win the war for our minds by taking every thought captive and bringing them into obedience to Christ and His Word.
PRAYER: Dear Father, examine our thoughts today. Is there any thought that is contrary to Your Word? Any motive or identity that goes against the knowledge of You? Bring it to our attention that we might take it captive and replace it with right thinking. Help us win the war for our minds that we might have the mind of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 8, 2022
BRING YOUR SINS TO THE LORD
Isaiah begins his prophecy with a terrifying appraisal of Israel’s sin. Yet before he even finishes the first chapter, he offers this hope of forgiveness and covering from the Lord. For the Lord invites us to come to Him and “settle” our sin problem. Though our sins are deeply dyed as scarlet and doubly red like crimson, yet the Lord is able to make them white as new snow or sheep’s wool. We cannot remove sin’s stain, but the Lord can.
For as Isaiah later writes, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). Who is this “Him” upon which the Lord will lay our sins? It is the Lord Jesus Christ. For when we bring our sins to the Lord asking for forgiveness and believing in His Son, our sins are “laid” on the Lord Jesus Christ, who died in our place. Our sin account is settled because Jesus paid off the balance in full.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for not only forgiving our sins, but also removing sin’s stain. We rejoice in the gift of grace through Jesus Christ our Lord! Even though we are still in this world, we are justified and clean before Your heavenly throne. Help us to walk in the Spirit today sharing the Good News of Your grace to all we meet. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 8, 2017
The prophet Isaiah wrote of a Day when the “haughtiness” of humanity would be “brought low” and the glory of the Lord rightly acknowledged. This is the “Day of the Lord” (“Yom Yahweh”), a time when God’s purposes are fully revealed and fulfilled. It is at that time, as the apostle Paul wrote, that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil.2:10-11).
From: September 8, 2016
Apparently, there were leaders in Corinth who were boasting of superior authority over the apostle Paul in his absence. Some accused him of being bold in writing, but timid in person and in speech (2 Cor. 10:10). Yet, Paul was the one who had first carried the gospel to Corinth. He warned against those who boasted in themselves. They may be more impressive in stature and superior in speech, but it was the Lord who had given the Corinthians Paul as their spiritual father. Instead, the “one who boasts,” should “boast in the Lord.” Here, Paul offered a summary of Jeremiah 9:23-24 to show that such self-commendation was unwise. The only boasting a Christ follower should do, is boasting about Christ. Whatever you are, whatever you have, whatever accomplishments or successes that have accrued to you… give the glory to the Lord. Boast in Jesus, not in yourself.
From: September 8, 2015
The Lord gave Isaiah a vision of the latter days when all nations will come to Jerusalem to worship, a day when the Lord Himself will judge and bring peace. In that day there will be no need for weapons of war. The wealth and works of the nations will no longer be wasted on mutual destruction, but on worship of God and mutual welfare. Even the study of war will be lost, so that mankind forgets the art. Such a day Isaiah saw and we still await its arrival.
From: September 8, 2014
This psalm of David was written during the time when he was hiding from Saul. Even though David was being persecuted and circumstances looked bleak, he trusted in “God’s unfailing love.” He compared himself to an olive tree that had sunk its roots into God’s house. Throughout the Middle East the olive tree is known to thrive. No matter the conditions: hot, dry, cold, wet, rocky, or sandy, this gnarly, evergreen tree will live and produce fruit. Even when cut down or burned, new shoots emerge from its roots. Some trees grow from roots that are over 2,000 years old. The olive tree was a symbol of steadfastness and fruitfulness in Israel. Where other trees would die, it thrives. This is what David declared, that with his life rooted in God’s unfailing love, he would thrive in spite of his circumstances. Instead of asking God to change our circumstances, let’s sink our roots into His living water and thrive where we’re planted!