Tag: humble and contrite
Contrite hearts!
Scripture reading for August 4th: Isaiah 63-66
Our culture values material wealth very highly. We love to look at the holdings of the extravagantly rich and imagine what it would be like if we could live in that luxury. We also value those with talents or abilities that make them famous. If we are honest, we have probably been caught up in this in some way or other.
God owns the universe and everything in it has come from His gracious hand. (Isaiah 66:1) The God who made us and all creation has something that He esteems and values highly. “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.” (Isaiah 65:2b) God values the one who is humble and teachable. He cares deeply for those who value His word. In fact, He promises them they will be rewarded for their faith!
God promises them that their enemies will be repaid. (Isaiah 66:5-6) God will come with fire and destroy those who have opposed Him and His people. (Isaiah 66:15-16) God promises that those who love Him and Jerusalem will find joy and satisfaction when God brings in the age of peace! (Isaiah 66:10-12) They will enjoy a “new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 66:22) that will endure forever along with the righteous and their descendants! When God’s people tremble at His word, it brings confidence and assurance. It enables them to wait on the Lord to bring it to pass and to live quiet and godly lives of faith and trust. (Isaiah 30:15) (Isaiah 40: 31) Their strength is renewed and they can finish their race with joy and expectation!
The last words of Isaiah have to do with the final punishment of the wicked. “And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against Me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.” (Isaiah 66:24) I am so thankful that through faith in Jesus Christ, I am now “highly esteemed” by God! What a blessing it is that He was broken and contrite and trembled at the Word of God! He perfectly kept it and offered His life for mine so I can escape this punishment! What a God we serve!
Highly esteemed by God!
Scripture reading for August 4th: Isaiah 63-66?
What are some things that you highly value? Our culture values material wealth very highly. We love to look at the holdings of the extravagantly rich and imagine what it would be like if we could live in that luxury. We also value those with talents or abilities that make them famous. The recent death of the “king of pop”, Michael Jackson, revealed that many people idolized this man. Nearly two million applied to go to his funeral! The prices of his albums, music, and other memorabilia went up as people grabbed for them after his death. News outlets are still talking about him and his legacy and death. Wealth and fame because of talents and ability have been highly esteemed by our culture. If we are honest, we have probably been caught up in this in some way or other.
God owns the universe and everything in it has come from His gracious hand. (Isaiah 66:1) The God who made us and all creation has something that He esteems and values highly. His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.” (Isaiah 65:2b) God values the man or woman or child who is humble and teachable. He cares deeply for those who value His word. In fact, He gives His word to them to encourage them that they will be rewarded for their faith and humble spirits!
God promises them that their enemies will be repaid for their mistreatment. Isaiah 66:5-6 promises that the Lord will repay them! He will come with fire and destroy those who have opposed God and His people. (Isaiah 66:15-16) God promises that those who love Him and Jerusalem will find joy and satisfaction when God delivers Jerusalem and brings in the age of peace! (Isaiah 66:10-12) They will enjoy a “new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 66:22) that will endure forever along with the righteous and their descendants! When God’s people tremble at His word, it brings confidence and assurance. It enables them to wait on the Lord to bring it to pass and to live quiet and godly lives of faith and trust. (Isaiah 30:15) (Isaiah 40: 31) Their strength is renewed and they can finish their race with joy and expectation!
The last words of Isaiah have to do with the final punishment of the wicked. “And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against Me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.” (Isaiah 66:24) I am so thankful that through faith in Jesus Christ, I am now “highly esteemed” by God! What a blessing it is that He was broken and contrite and trembled at the Word of God! He perfectly kept it and offered His life for mine so I can escape this punishment! What a God we serve!