Isaiah 42:1-4

“Jacob is My Servant; I will help Him. Israel is My chosen; My soul accepts Him. I put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard outside. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; but He will bring forth judgment in truth. He will shine forth and not be broken until He establishes judgment in the earth; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Encouraging Words

Who is this passage referring to? Who is this Jacob, that is chosen and accepted by God? Who will have the spirit of God put upon Him? Who will do, and be, all the other wonderful things that this passage calls out? It is Jesus who was fully man and fully God. As man, Jesus had God’s Spirit descend upon Him. He showed love, compassion, mercy, and grace to those around Him. He is our salvation. Glory be to God!

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you. Do not go astray, for I am your God who strengthens you; and I will help and secure you with My righteous right hand.

Encouraging Words

We have nothing to fear when the world around us goes awry. We have no reason to turn away from God when our lives get difficult. God is the one who gives us strength. He is the one who helps and secures us. He is our refuge and our fortress and we can fear not. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives strength to the hungry, and sorrow to those who do not grieve. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the elect shall be without strength. But those who wait on God shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not hunger.

Encouraging Words

This has always been one of my favorite passages. God takes care of us. He holds us in the palm of His hands. The more we do Ho’s work the more He lifts us up and restores us. The more we wait on Him the more we see Him. Glory be to God!

Isaiah 40:7-8

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God abides forever.

Encouraging Words

We have some faith practices today that believe the only true and complete word of God are those writings that have been bound between two leather covers. Some even go so far as to say that the only correct version of these writings is the one that is written in old English. How can this be when these writings themselves say that the word of God abides forever? This is because Isaiah is talking about the Word of God, Jesus Christ who is eternal with no beginning and no end. He is the only true Word of God. He is not bound between two leather covers or held to one form of language. He is the Word that we cherish and worship. He is the one who continues to write His story on the hearts of mankind and the pages of history. Glory be to God!

Isaiah 35:10

and those gathered by the Lord shall return and come to Zion with gladness, and with everlasting gladness over their head. For praise and exceeding joy will be on their head, and gladness shall possess them. Pain, sorrow, and sighing fled away.

Encouraging Words

It has been quite a year for most of us. A year that many would like to forget. As Christians, we put our hope in our Lord and the future life that we will spend with Him in eternity. This hope includes a Kingdom with no pain, sorrow, or sighing. This is a Kingdom of gladness. Jesus ushered this Kingdom in and we are already citizens of it. We can claim our hope now and be glad in it. Glory be to God!

Isaiah 33:13-16

“Those afar off will hear what I have done; and those near will know My strength.” The lawless in Zion departed; trembling will seize the ungodly. Who will tell you a fire is burning? Who will tell you about the eternal place? He who walks in righteousness and speaks uprightly, he who hates lawlessness and wrongdoing, who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, he who stops his ears from hearing the judgment of blood, and he who shuts his eyes from seeing wrongdoing. He will dwell in a high cave of a mighty rock. Bread will be given him, and his water will be plentiful.”

Personal Challenge

Who will be the ones that will be able to tell the world the truth about Christ? It will be those who walk in His ways and live their lives for Him. We speak loudest with our actions and behaviors. Words fall by the wayside if they are not accompanied by walking in righteousness, speaking uprightly, and living for Christ. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Isaiah 30:15

For thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel: “When you return and groan, then you will be saved and know where you were. When you trusted in vain things, vain was your strength, and you did not will to listen.”

Personal Challenge

Throughout the history of the Jewish people, God’s chosen ones, they were in exile from their promised land. The exile was the consequence of departing from their relationship with their God. When they would get their priorities straightened out and return to their worship of God, they would be returned to their rightful state. It was always trusting in vain things that led them away from God. How often do we do the same thing? How often do we put our trust in the things of this world and look away from God? We too must return to Him to receive His blessings. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Isaiah 29:13

So the Lord said, “These people draw near to Me and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and they worship Me in vain, teaching the commandments and doctrines of men.”

Personal Challenge

Is our worship that we do on Sunday’s for Gods’ edification or ours? Are the songs that we sing glorifying God or are they written to make us feel good? Are our prayer times focused on praising God and interceding for those around us or are they our wish list approaching God as if He is Santa Claus? God wants us to worship Him from the very depths of our hearts and souls. He does not want us to perform for Him every once in a while and then live the rest of our lives as if He doesn’t matter. True worship comes from a transformed heart and life. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!