June 12, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before she was in pain, she delivered a boy. Who has heard of such as this? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children. Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?’ says the LORD. ‘Or will I who deliver close the womb?’ says your God.” (Isaiah 66.7-8)

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

So, taking a look at the four examples of “666” mentioned yesterday, what do we see? My answer is “That God is in control! He is working all things together for our good.” Let us remember, mighty ones of God, that nothing exists beyond the sovereignty of God. There is nothing that can and shall overtake who God is by word or deed. We are called to believe in the One who believes in us. It is in believing that we shall be able to conceive of what the will of God is doing in the midst of all things. That is the substance of our faith in God. In it we are able to receive the Word of God manifested perfectly in Jesus Christ as the template for our own lives. Yes, when I look at “666” and know that the God who loves remains in sovereign control, I put my faith in Him who promises to deliver justice on the just and the unjust. What our eyes cannot see nor our mind conceive, our spirit in Christ can perceive the truth which is at work in and behind the scenes. Giving God the glory and the credit with our trust is what we are called to do. “We must“, as Paul wrote to the community of faith in Corinth, “walk by faith and not by sight.”

Why must we do this as believers in Christ and as mighty ones of God? It is because there is a battle being waged in the realm of the Spirit. We see it in part in the sin-fection of this world where war, disease, poverty, hatred, dysfunctional communities and self-absorbed people seek to rule the world (that is, the people living on earth.) Equally as bad is the desire of the true Enemy of God and humankind, to use those tools with the hope to rule the earth (that is, the globe on which we live.) While we “see” such battles daily around the globe, what we often lose sight of is the battle behind and within. Conquering the heart, mind and soul with authentic love and understanding will assist in overcoming the tribulation which is at hand and prepare people for the one which is about to come. God’s word here to Isaiah about “giving birth without labor, delivering a child without pain” is that not so subtle reminder of what life would have been like before the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They fell prey to the wiles of the Enemy and suffered greatly for it but not fatally because of God’s grace. Did Satan know that God was motivated by mercy and love leading to forgiveness and restoration? Was his complaint the same as that which we heard in the story of Job and Jonah? They knew God would do what God said regardless of the circumstances. They surrendered, not without struggle and pain, to the inevitable “God is going to do such a thing.” God’s greater purpose is for life to live in harmony with all creation as a reflection of who God is, was and will always be. The promise we hear in the Revelation given to John is exactly that: the day will come when we will be born new into the Kingdom of God in the full presence of God Himself without fear, dread or pain. God is doing this thing. God will do it. God has started a work and He will finish it!

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 but as righteous works leading others to call Jesus Lord in faith, hope and love. AMEN.