The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Isaiah 27-30
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 7: Kings and Prophets: The southern kingdom as God’s people
Background Information: Isaiah 27-30
Some of God’s promises were unconditional, like the promise of an eternal king from the house of David. Nothing the foolish kings would do could stop this promise. Some of God’s promises were conditional, like the promises of temporal blessings if they would obey. These were promises of both blessings and curses, and the outcomes were dependent on how the people responded to God. The people of God in Isaiah’s time had become arrogantly self-reliant. They trusted their own strength, they listened to prophets who told them what they wanted to hear, and when their strength had failed and disaster was imminent, they turned to Egypt, not to God, for help. There is back and forth between judgment and hope as God is keeping his promise fully in view and at the same time warning his people of the coming consequences of their own sin. In times of prosperity and times of terrible judgment, God continually invites his people to build their lives on the lasting foundation of his promises.
“Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
the one who believes will be unshakable.” Isaiah 28:16
This promise was fulfilled fully and finally in Christ Jesus. Peter uses this passage to describe him; he is this foundation stone that God has set for all people to build their lives on (1 Peter 2:6). Those who build on this foundation, no matter what is in their ancestry or past behavior, will be made God’s people of new covenant promise. Those who repent and believe in Jesus will leave the darkness of their own self-reliance and sin and move into his marvelous light.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
1 Peter 2:9
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for the Youth team serving in Thailand. Ask God to use their efforts to encourage the long term workers serving in Thailand. Pray that the team would be teachable and grow in their love for one another.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.