The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Isaiah 31-35
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 7: Kings and Prophets: The southern kingdom as God’s people
Background Information: Isaiah 31-35
Everyone lives by faith. Everyone puts their confidence in someone or something. The leaders in Judah put their faith in Egypt’s military might against the Assyrians. They had forgotten how God had defeated Egypt and delivered their ancestors from slavery centuries earlier. God had done this without any help from foreign powers. He had defeated the world’s superpower through his own infinite power. Then, in desperation, Hezekiah will attempt to turn Assyria’s wrath away through bribery, and it won’t work. Finally, after they have exhausted their own feeble strategies at self-protection, they will turn to God and, in his mercy, he will rescue them. This silly strategy of making God the last resort cannot last; judgement will come on the people. In coming judgment, God will continually call people to repent. Repentance begins in the mind; in the New Testament, the word used literally means a change of mind. Repentance, to be authentic, will lead to a change in lifestyle. A change of mind will lead to a change in life direction. We turn away from sin and turn towards God. Isaiah goes back and forth between then-current historical events and the coming of Jesus (in their future), and the return of Jesus (in our future). In chapter 34 God says he will turn the nations into a wildness, and then in chapter 35 he will turn his people back into a garden. The direction of Scripture is a steady march back to the garden…back to the place where God’s people enjoyed unhindered relationship with him and undiminished fellowship with one another. The path to this wonderful place is called the “Highway of Holiness.” Only those made clean by the sacrifice of Jesus will be able to walk that road. God has not lowered himself to the sins of people, instead he has raised his people to the standards of his holiness.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Ask God for his hand to be on Donnovan Karber and the training on mentoring that he is leading in Nigeria. Pray that God would raise up mentors and mentoring organizations in Nigeria and throughout the continent of Africa.
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.