Our Incomparable God

Today's verse is Isaiah 46:5
     To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal,
      And compare me, that we may be like?

How to convey the truth found here. God challenges us to find any (one or thing) that can compare to him, even to describing those who make idol to worship them, shewing for all to see the emptiness of such actions. There is none like to God! Nothing can match him. There is no comparison that can be made to his love, his compassion, his wrath and vengeful-ness, and none with the right or ability to do either without him. He is worthy to follow, and if we do not we are worthy of his wrath, as much as we try to deny it. So follow him, learn of his love, his compassion, and his mercy receiving the reward he has prepared for you, and avoid experiencing the full extent of all that we deserve through his wrath. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Isa 46–50 and Eph 5–6
Tomorrow's reading will be: Isa 51–57

God Has Made You For A Purpose

Today's verse is Isaiah 44:2
     Thus saith the LORD that made thee,
      And formed thee from the womb, which will help thee;
      Fear not, O Jacob, my servant;
      And thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

We see here God speaking of when he chose Jacob; it was when God made him, and as God made Jacob, so too did he make you, and chose you for the purpose he has for you. The God of Heaven and Earth and all that therein is has specifically made you for the role he has set forth in you. The question is, will you be as Pharaoh receiving God's judgment as he delivers God's people from you? Or will you be as Cyrus; being the means by which God restores his people to the their land? The choice is fully yours; both men fulfilled their God given purpose, and both have received the reward for their choices: one to damnation, and the other to Glory. Which path do you choose?

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Isa 44–45
Tomorrow's reading will be: Isa 46–50 and Eph 5–6

The Unsearchable God

Today's verse is Ephesians 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 

In the passages that I have read today, we find concepts that require thought and mediation to understand them. Consider such phrases as "the unsearchable riches of Christ" and "the manifold wisdom of God." In these phrases we are introduced to things that by searching them out in the scriptures, we could spend hours, days, months, yea, even years fully understanding each of them. It is all wonder, and marvel, but no surprise that we are told in Isaiah:

    But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
      They shall mount up with wings as eagles;
      They shall run, and not be weary;
      And they shall walk, and not faint.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Isa 39–43 and Eph 3–4
Tomorrow's reading will be: Isa 44–45

Joy And Gladness

Today's verse is Isaiah 35:10
     And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
      And come to Zion with songs
      And everlasting joy upon their heads:
      They shall obtain joy and gladness,
      And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

 A glimpse of eternity with God, the curse that has plagued us is gone, and all that is good reigns through the Most High God, the creator of Heaven and Earth. Today, the curse placed upon Adam is so prevalent that this present world cannot function without it. The second law of thermodynamics, which I believe is the heart of the curse, if it where to be just done away with, nothing would work. God in his Wisdom has included the struggle that is the curse into the fabric of Creation, so that without it we fall down. Look at the butterfly, if it does not struggle as it comes out of its cocoon, it will not have the strength to fly. But not so in Eternity, all that causes us to sorrow, all that causes us pain, will be gone, done away with, replaced by God, so that all still works, and joy and gladness shall overflow the Earth. Talk about pie in the sky. So as you struggle today, Look to God, and know that he has something greater in mind for you that are ransomed in Christ Jesus. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Isa 34–38 and Eph 1–2
Monday's reading will be: Isa 39–43 and Eph 3–4

Sure Guidance

Today's verse is Isaiah 30:21
     And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,
      This is the way, walk ye in it,
      When ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

We have heard of Fate, and of Destiny, but these things are as nothing to God's purpose for you, and he is interested in telling you what that purpose is, that you may choose to willingly fulfill it. We see here a promise to guide all of us in the way that is most pleasing to him that made us, that we might receive the reward that he has prepared for us, when his purpose is fulfilled in us. Our choice is not whether his purpose will be fulfilled, but whether we can receive the Joy he has prepared for us when it is. Let us therefore, as we learned yesterday have our mind stayed upon him, and surrender ourselves to the plan he has for us and walk in it, to his honor and glory, and if so, find that reward beyond our imaging.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Isa 30:8–33:24
Tomorrow's reading will be: Isa 34–38 and Eph 1–2

Peace In The Midst Of Trouble

Today's verse is Isaiah 26:3-4
     Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
      Whose mind is stayed on thee:
      Because he trusteth in thee.
     Trust ye in the LORD for ever:
      For in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

If you read the surrounding text, even today's passages of Isaiah, such words of hope as quoted above are surrounded by despair and woe and heartache for those that do not know the Most High God. As we live our lives today we are faced with similar circumstances: troubles on every side often affecting us as well that we say we have not peace, so we say where is this promise, why do we not experience this perfect peace?  Look at Peter, and learn from his example. When he stepped out of the boat and his eyes were on Jesus, he walked on the water. He was at peace. However, when he saw the storm his mind was no longer stayed on Christ, but the storm, and thus peace was no longer his. Our God is the master of the storm, and therefore when the storm is raging pay it no heed, but look to him that controls the storm, seek his will, and he will bring you through it, according to his purpose. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Isa 23:1–30:7 and Gal 4–6
Tomorrow's reading will be: Isa 30:8–33:24

Healing Through Wounding

Today's verse is Isaiah 19:22
     And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it:
      And they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.

Healing, one would not normally think that by being struck, healing would take place. But what we are talking about is correction, and correction is often painful, especially when we do not wish to receive it. However, when we do receive it, pay heed to it and change our ways because of it, healing does take place.  We humans, are often a stubborn lot, and we make it so that in order to get our attention something drastic must be done, so comes the strike, and we are smitten, then once God has our attention we have the opportunity to respond. If we respond by fighting back, we shall be destroyed, but if we open our eyes and see the danger we were running in to, we can then be healed, for we are no longer heading for the pit that was ahead of us. So what is it then, is God trying to get your attention, if so turn to him, pay heed to his instruction, and He will deliver you out of your troubles. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Isa 18–22
Tomorrow's reading will be: Isa 23:1–30:7 and Gal 4–6

Vain Labor

Today's verse is Isaiah 17:10-11
     Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation,
      And hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength,
      Therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants,
      And shalt set it with strange slips:
     In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow,
      And in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish:
      But the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.

In Haggai, he tells us of Israel, that because they did not do as God wished in building the temple, that their labor was in vain, earning wages to put them in a bag full of holes, thus losing them. Here we see the same principle, that because we have put God in last place, (something that is easy for us to do, sometimes not even realizing it) all that we do, brings no fruit.  The answer to this is to daily take stock, or inventory, placing him that loves us at the pentacle of our lives. Or as my Pastor taught yesterday morning, "Be consumed with God." For he is our salvation, and he is the source of our strength, and all that we do by his Spirit will never be in vain, but will always bear fruit to our account. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan:  Isa 14–17 and  Gal 1–3
Tomorrow's reading will be: Isa 18–22

Examine Yourselves

Today's verse is II Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?


For many reasons from scripture, I believe that once one has received that blessed gift of salvation, that it is impossible to lose it. However, we have here an important command: that we should examine the basis for why we are confident of our salvation, for it is easy to think oneself saved for the wrong reasons. I for one, before I received Christ trusted in that I was baptized, and did practice a wonder such I was one that said, "Have not I done such and such in your Name?" and he said, "I never knew you." So on that day in march of '86 I trusted in Jesus' Death for payment of my sin, and believed in my heart that now he is not dead, but has risen, and by this I know that shall live with him forevermore. Ever since, any time I deem myself worthy of hell, I know that I am, but Jesus paid my debt, and there is nothing else I can do outside of what Jesus has done for me to enter into Heaven. Selah [Think about that.] Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan:  Isa 7:10–13:22 and 2 Cor 11–13
Monday's reading will be: Isa 14–17 and  Gal 1–3

Even In Judgment, Redemption Can Be Found

Today's verse is Isaiah 5:25
     Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people,
      And he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them:
      And the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets.
      For all this his anger is not turned away,
      But his hand is stretched out still.

We see here judgment. Judgment because Israel did not put God first, and not only that but sought out other Gods and served them, and honored them. If we examine ourselves as a nation, are we not doing the same thing. What is it that we lift up? What is it that we hold dear? And while some judgment has come, we have not seen it as judgment from on high; we can expect more. But notice that last line, the last refrain: "his hand is stretched out still." He, the God of Heaven and Earth, and all that in them is, still has his hand out, hoping that we will take it and be redeemed from our evil doings. Let us therefore, stand up, grab that hand, and declare his righteousness found by receiving that precious gift through Jesus Christ. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Isa 2:6–7:9
Tomorrow's reading will be: Isa 7:10–13:22 and 2 Cor 11–13

God's Veiw of Religion

Today's verse is Isaiah 1:13
     Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me;
      The new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with;
      It is iniquity, even the solemn meeting

We see here Religion: the attempt of man to appease God, by his own merits; this in our sinful state is impossible. For all of these things are as wickedness in the eyes of God. So then, how can a man be right with God, a question I believe Job asked, and also answered, but we will stay with Isaiah. Consider this: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:/ Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; /Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Our God, the God of Heaven and Earth, the Creator of all that is desires a relationship with us, and since we are unable to please him, he has made a way for us to come to him through Jesus Christ the Lord. It is by Jesus' death on the cross that cleanses us from sin, and it is by his resurrection that it is removed from us "as far as the east is from the west."  When we come to God by this whatever we do can then please him. Amen
     
To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Song 6:2–8:14, Isa 1:1–2:5 and 2 Cor 8–10
Tomorrow's reading will be: Isa 2:6–7:9

A Valuable Savior

Today's verse is Song of Solomon 3:4
     It was but a little that I passed from them,
      But I found him whom my soul loveth:
      I held him, and would not let him go,
      Until I had brought him into my mother’s house,
      And into the chamber of her that conceived me.

We have here a dual meaning, of the first, I have no knowledge so I shall not speak, but of the second: We have a Savior, who because of our ungodliness and unrighteousness can be hard to find, not because He does not present himself, but because we do not wish to see him. But once we find him we need to do as is described here and hold onto him never letting him go; presenting him to all that we hold dear, that they might know him as well.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Song 3:1–6:1
Tomorrow's reading will be: Song 6:2–8:14, Isa 1:1–2:5 and 2 Cor 8–10

He Leads Where He Asks Us To Follow

Today's verse is II Corinthians 5:15
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

It has been said that for a leader to be effective, that he must be willing to do as he commands of others. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, has not only been willing, but has already done those things that he asks of us to do. He does not ask us to follow where he has not already been, but to follow where he has been, and even paved the way. With the difficulties we might see, though the way seems hard, he has already done it, he knows the pain he asks of us, and he always has a purpose for it. So not if, but when he asks, consider what he has already done for you, and keep your eyes upon his cross, endure the pain, and when his purpose is accomplished we shall be rewarded according to his Glory, and see great and mighty things that we know not of. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Eccles 9–12, Song 1–2 and 2 Cor 4–7
Tomorrow's reading will be: Song 3:1–6:1

Our Comfortor

Today's verse is II Corinthians 1:4
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

It is no question, but that we should see difficult times, yea even tribulation from time to time, but in such times we can be confident that our God is there. He is with us, carrying us, comforting us. One of the reasons we face these troubles is so that we will have the ability to share the comfort that we have received in these times with others as they also face their own difficulties. So take heart, and look for opportunities to share with others that same comfort you have been given. For we have a Great God and Loving, who will never leave nor forsake us. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Eccles 4–8 and 2 Cor 1–3
Monday's reading will be: Eccles 9–12, Song 1–2 and 2 Cor 4–7

God's Work

Today's verse is Ecclesiastes 3:14
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him

There is not a one of us born to this Earth, that God does not love, but he will not force that love upon us, to this end he invites us to come to him. So then, what is it that he is doing in your life, for we can be confident that he works for  all that are his. Many times he asks of us to do some small thing (even if it appears to be a great thing) to show our faith in what he said he would do. Rarer, but still possible is that we are to wait and watch, but regardless what our role is, it is God that is doing it. Consider the Children of Israel as they were to cross the river Jordan. The Priests had to dip their toes into the river before it would part. But Abraham was not to do any thing special, but to wait and look to God for the birth of his son Isaac. So what is God doing in your life, and what is the role he wants you to play, once you know, do it without delay, and God which loves you will reward you even more than you can imagine.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Eccles 2–3
Tomorrow's reading will be: Eccles 4–8 and 2 Cor 1–3

Vengeance Does Not Belong to Us

Today's verse is Proverbs 20:22
     Say not thou, I will recompense evil;
      But wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

 Of many things that we are prone to do, Vengeance is one of the strongest. But here we are commanded to abstain from it, Aye, even to refuse to do it. Why? Because we have a God that is able, and we have a God that has declared that all Vengeance belongs to him. Not to mention that if we steal from him, we must pay at least double. Now we have here a promise, that if we leave vengeance to him, he will deliver us from the trouble, he will save. If we wait on him, be patient with all longsuffering as we learn from Job, our God will not only save us from our troubles, but will richly rewards us for our troubles. Let us therefore, Look to him, do as he has commanded in his Word, leave our enemies to him, and see what he has prepared for us that trust in him. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Prov 9:13–31:31, Eccles 1 and 1 Cor 15–16
Tomorrow's reading will be: Eccles 2–3

God Watches

Today's verse is Proverbs 5:21
     For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD,
      And he pondereth all his goings.

The God that made all of the Heavens, and the Earth, and all that is in them, watches you and he watches me, taking an interest in what we are doing, and considers the way that we go. This thought is interjected as a stop gap, mentioned while considering why we would exercise ourselves in depravity. And while it could mean that he is out to 'get us,' I do not believe that is the reason it is here. Yes, it is part warning, but it is also declaring that even in our sin, That Great God cares for us, and considers our state. We even find out elsewhere that He has taken measures that we might have a way to come to him. So as you go about your way today, stop, and consider that God is lovingly watching you as a Father that loves even his wayward children, just waiting until that child will come back to his open arms. Selah. [Think about that] Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Prov 4:1–9:12
Tomorrow's reading will be: Prov 9:13–31:31, Eccles 1 and 1 Cor 15–16

Our God Guides

Today's verse is Proverbs 3:5-6
     Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
      And lean not unto thine own understanding.
     In all thy ways acknowledge him,
      And he shall direct thy paths

If we understand nothing else outside of God's promise of salvation, we must understand this: That it is God we must trust, whether we understand or not, and it is him we must consider with all that we do, for if we do not acknowledge him is all of our ways, we will find ourselves upon the path described in Romans: "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;" So that we have a choice: Trust in God, and in everything we do acknowledge what he would have us do, seek for what he would have us do, and if so he will guide us in all that we do. But if not then we be left to follow after our own lusts, to do those things that are so inconvenient, that others looking on cannot understand why we do such things (even though they do the same things.) Which path do you what?

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ps 150, Prov 1–3 and 1 Cor 13–14
Tomorrow's reading will be: Prov 4:1–9:12

Deliverance

Today's verse is Psalm 141:8
     But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord:
      In thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute

We see Lazarus who begged at the gate of the rich man, He was only comforted after death in the bosom of Abraham, but he was comforted. We see Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who were willing to enter the furnace, whether they were to be delivered or not, and we see Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his Son. Each of these had their eyes upon God. Each of these trusted in the Lord. Each of these we can be sure cried unto God not to be left destitute. All of them had their request answered in the affirmative. As with Lazarus, not in the way he possibly had hoped, but all were lifted out of their trail, and God was Glorified. So what ever you may be facing, as the Psalmist proclaims so do. Look to God, place your trust in him, and he will not leave your soul destitute, according to his declared purpose. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ps 141–149 and 1 Cor 11:2–12:31  
Monday's reading will be: Ps 150, Prov 1–3 and 1 Cor 13–14

God Finishes His Work

Today's verse is Psalm 138:8
     The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:
      Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever:
      Forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Earlier is the same Psalm we read these words: "For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." In the next Psalm we see that the God of Heaven and Earth, the God Most High, knows every detail about us, from the smallest to the greatest, from our greatest desires to our worst fears, from our greatest achievement to our worst, most horrible sin. For all of this, this God has made many precious promises, many are conditional, some are not, solely based upon God. The first condition for any is that we accept his free gift found in his Son. But if God has made you a promise, whether it is found in the pages of his Word, or given other wise it is sure, and it will be done, for our God always finishes what he starts, without fail. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ps 134–140
Tomorrow's reading will be: Ps 141–149 and 1 Cor 11:2–12:31

Willingly, or unwillingly

Today's verse is I Corinthians 9:17
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

What is the purpose the Most High God, that knows all, knows what is best, even knows what would be good for you, has designed for you? We can see here that as Paul, so also can we expect, that God's purpose will be fulfilled in us. If we should do so willing, we cannot even image the scope of the reward, but if unwillingly, we have but to look at Jonah. Throughout his whole book, all that he did, even when he did that which God had asked of him, he did so unwillingly, and suffered for it, but throughout his actions God purpose was fulfilled and even greater. Wherever Jonah went, revival followed in those about him, but Jonah's cup was empty. So we have a choice, to do has God has asked, and receive the reward, or do as God has decreed and suffer the consequences.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ps 128–133 and 1 Cor 9:1–11:1
Tomorrow's reading will be: Ps 134–140

God Delievers According to His Word

Today's verse is Psalm 119:170
     Let my supplication come before thee:
      Deliver me according to thy word

All we that have trusted in Jesus Christ have the ability to discern what the will of our God is for us. Sometimes what he tells us seems so hard we deny it to ourselves, but once we surrender to it, we must admit to ourselves that we have always known what that will was. So whether we surrender early or late, we find that what God desires for us is beyond our ability; we must depend upon him for its fulfillment. Sometimes we must act, at others we must wait and watch him act, but in either case he will be the one that determines the outcome. So we must ask him to do as he has said that he would do. When we do, always at the right time he will deliver us that all might see his Work. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ps 119:161–127:5
Tomorrow's reading will be: Ps 128–133 and 1 Cor 9:1–11:1

God's Word is Sure

Today's Verse is Psalm 119:152
     Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old
      That thou hast founded them for ever

God's Word, a sure foundation upon which we can trust. It is more reliable than that which we can see, hear, touch, smell, or taste. Any of our experiences can deceive us, but God's Word will always give us perspective; a firm place to start a journey into the unknown. It will guide us in how to live, and not only that, but it will guide us into how to die, and what is worthy to die for. Some will say that there is nothing worth dying for, but they have no value on the life they are not willing to lose. But in God's Word we can see the value of the life God has given us, as well as the value of those around us, and as great as that value is, we find in God's Word we find something of even greater value: a fellowship, a relationship with the Creator, the most High God who loves us and valued us so much that died in our place, that we might live forever with him. Selah. [Think about that] Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ps 119:97–160 and 1 Cor 6–8
Tomorrow's reading will be: Ps 119:161–127:5