(Isaiah 46:1-13)
1 Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over;
Their idols have become loads for the animals and the cattle.
The things that you carry are burdensome,
A load for the weary animal.
2 They stooped over, they have bowed down together;
They could not rescue the burden,
But have themselves gone into captivity.
3 “Listen to Me, house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been carried by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb;
4 Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will carry you!
I have done it, and I will bear you;
And I will carry you and I will save you.
5 “To whom would you liken Me
And make Me equal, and compare Me,
That we would be alike?
6 Those who lavish gold from the bag
And weigh silver on the scale,
Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
They bow down, indeed they worship it.
7 They lift it on the shoulder, carry it,
And set it in its place, and it stands there.
It does not move from its place.
Though one may shout to it, it cannot answer;
It cannot save him from his distress.
8 “Remember this, and be assured;
Recall it to mind, you wrongdoers.
9 Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My plan will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a distant country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, I will certainly do it.
12 “Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded,
Who are far from righteousness.
13 I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off;
And My salvation will not delay.
And I will grant salvation in Zion,
And My glory for Israel.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Their idols have become loads for the animals and the cattle.
The things that you carry are burdensome,
A load for the weary animal.
2 They stooped over, they have bowed down together;
They could not rescue the burden,
But have themselves gone into captivity.
3 “Listen to Me, house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been carried by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb;
4 Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will carry you!
I have done it, and I will bear you;
And I will carry you and I will save you.
5 “To whom would you liken Me
And make Me equal, and compare Me,
That we would be alike?
6 Those who lavish gold from the bag
And weigh silver on the scale,
Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
They bow down, indeed they worship it.
7 They lift it on the shoulder, carry it,
And set it in its place, and it stands there.
It does not move from its place.
Though one may shout to it, it cannot answer;
It cannot save him from his distress.
8 “Remember this, and be assured;
Recall it to mind, you wrongdoers.
9 Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My plan will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a distant country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, I will certainly do it.
12 “Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded,
Who are far from righteousness.
13 I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off;
And My salvation will not delay.
And I will grant salvation in Zion,
And My glory for Israel.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
God does not expect anyone to become good "enough" or righteous BEFORE going to Him. We are to go to Him as we are! And when we accept His salvation, He gives us His righteousness, changing us from the inside out. He is faithful and keeps His promises. As we continue striving to live in the purpose the Lord has for us, He will carry us and help us. It is absolutely comforting and encouraging to know that the Lord finds pleasure in all of this!
As well, even though having a personal relationship in the Lord is beyond priceless - beyond measure... the Lord is not unreasonable. He is not like some entitled woman who thinks a man should lavish her with the most expensive gifts to prove his love for her, whether he can afford to do so or not! The Lord does not ask for anything more than what is practical and reasonable.
In any loving relationships, the most precious gift we can give someone, like a spouse, is ourselves, our faithfulness, and our loving efforts to embrace and serve the other... So then, how much more does the Lord deserve?! In a personal relationship with Him, where He has died in our place, and where He has saved us and pours into us, all He expects of us is ourselves, our faithfulness, and our loving efforts to embrace and serve Him!
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