The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Isaiah 54-58
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 7: Kings and Prophets: The southern kingdom as God’s people
Background Information: Isaiah 54-58
One of the most common objections to the exclusive truth claim of the gospel is that it seems unfair to those who have never heard the name of Jesus. Ironically, it is often those who are hearing the name of Jesus proclaimed who resist making him Lord because of the hypothetical person in another place who has not heard his name. According to Scripture, there are two main ways God has made himself known to man. One is often called General Revelation. This is revealed truth that is available to everyone, everywhere. In Romans chapter 1, Paul writes of how people can know some things about God by looking at what he has made. In Romans chapter 2, he writes about how people have some knowledge of God built into their conscience. The other way God has made himself known is called Special Revelation. This includes Scripture and the Lord Jesus. In Isaiah, we find God judging his people because they have rejected his revealed word to them. They have been given direct knowledge of who God is and what he wants from his people. In addition, they were given the mission of taking this knowledge of God to all peoples of the earth; they were not to keep it to themselves. We also find God’s heart for all nations as Isaiah, speaking for God, writes, “Come, everyone who is thirsty…seek the Lord while he may be found. No foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord should say, ‘The Lord will exclude me from his people.'” In Scripture, people are rightfully judged for not responding to the light they have been given. It is also true that as people respond to the light they have been given, God will make a way for them to receive more light. In the end, no one will be able to say, “God is not fair.” All who are saved are saved by God’s grace, and no one deserves it. All who are judged are judged according to their own sin against God. If you struggle with the question, “What about those who have never heard?”, there are two good responses. First, you have heard what will you do with that knowledge? Second, there are others who have not heard. Will you take responsibility to make Jesus known to them? Trust God with the things that are beyond your ability to completely understand. Obey God in the things that he has clearly made known to you.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for small group leaders at River as they prepare to begin leading groups this semester. 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.