May 20, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Do not be angry, O LORD, beyond measure; do not remember our iniquity forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray; we are all Your people!. After all this, O LORD, will You restrain Yourself? Will You keep silent and afflict us beyond measure?” (Isaiah 64.9, 12)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

What is it we truly believe about God? Are we focused more on what we want God to do for us or on what God can do with us? Do we have enough faith to stretch our minds, our spiritual minds, to the furthest reaches of God’s being? Or shall we merely focus on what serves us best and validates our own agendas when it comes to our faith and faith expressions? Our best selves come when we recognize the fullness of God. When it comes to God, we dare not label Him by worldly understanding. Isaiah proclaims this throughout his prophetic work; especially here in chapter 64. We see the reflection of Job’s faith in God regardless of the circumstances which he must endure. Why must he endure it? Because the “quality control inspector,” Satan the Accuser, doubts that there can be any human being who will remain faithful given the “right” circumstances. He brings disasters and loss of life into Job’s world. Job is literally “sorely” effected. Yet, Job maintains that he will accept all things are from God. I can only imagine the slap in the face to Satan as Job maintains there is only One entity who has total control. That One is God, Almighty God, creator of Heaven and earth. We see in Job no sense of dualism. He does not give in to allowing any other force to have sway over him but God. If there is trouble, there is only the call to trust God in all things. He does not deny that God has within His power the ability to tear down and destroy. It is the polar opposite of the power to build up and prosper. God is the God of all things. God is just and His justice is visible in that He can do all things which serve the “good” of God and all creation.

That “good” includes reconciliation via His mercy and grace. He is a “good” Father who understands the value of discipline. Authentic discipline does not tear down but fosters the building up of person, place and objects for a greater good. Jesus told His disciples, “Sincerely and without equivocation, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.” (John 14.12-14) Jesus came that He would accomplish His Father’s will. Whatever the Father asked of Him, He would do it and complete it for the glory of God which is for the benefit of God’s people. As mighty ones of God in Christ Jesus, we are called to be the same and do the same for the same purpose. That is the “good” that is in us. It takes effort, concentrated effort. It takes faith, diligent and sincere faith. It takes love, authentic and sacrificial love. All of this is within the nature and character of God. As His breath brought us to life as in Adam, so it will bring us to new life as in Christ. It was Christ who breathed His last requesting of God to return it to those whom He loved; both those He knew and those He foreknew. Jesus calls us to build up one another in faith, with hope and according to love. No greater love can there be than this. This is what Isaiah hoped for and spoke to God on behalf of the people. They had seen so much turmoil and defeat and impossibility. Isaiah did not want any of them to lose hope. His appeal to God in this chapter speaks directly to it. No one could make it happen apart from God. It remains that way to this day and for all the days yet to come.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness which we know is folly but righteous works which declare Your glory and further witness the truth that can set all who believe free. Hear our prayer, O Lord, and be gracious to us in the name of Jesus.