October 13, 2006 - Isaiah 41-42 and I Thessalonians 1
It is futile to trust in anyone or anything else, except the Lord. When we come to realize this, we will renounce the idols we have been trusting and put ourselves in God's mighty hand. That is the only way to have life and have it abundantly. That is what our reading today is all about.
Isaiah 41 contains a great word picture for God's power in our lives. The right hand was a symbol of power. Therefore, verse 10 says that God will uphold us with His right hand. However, it goes one step further. It says that to do this He will hold our right hand. (v.13) That is a picture of us giving up our power to rest in Him and trust His powerful right hand to protect us. I will never forget hearing our missionary friend Phillip Lyons share this in our church. It is such a wonderful way of saying that we must give in to the Lord, and He will take care of us. Then, we will see what only the hand of the Lord can do. (v.20)
Then, Isaiah 42 exalts Jesus as the One sent by God to save us from the idols. He has the Spirit of God. (v.1) He is a gentle, meek Savior. (v.2-3) However, He will establish justice. God will give Him His glory, which He shares with no one else. (v.8) That shows us that Jesus is God. Therefore, Isaiah calls on everyone to turn to the Lord and forsake the dead idols. That is why God was punishing His people then, and that is why He has to punish us today. He will not let us destroy our lives by sinning with idols without trying to turn us away from them. He is a truly Loving God.
I Thessalonians 1 gives us an example of a group of people who had forsaken their idols to follow Jesus. The believers in Thessalonica were an example to all in the area. (v.7) They were missionaries. They were going out to others to show them the way to forsake their idols and trust Jesus, too. (v.8-9) They were known for the faith, love, and hope. (v.3) None of those things came in their own strength, but as they put their right hand in God's mighty right hand when they came to trust Jesus and turn from their sin.
Also, look at Isaiah 41:23 as a side note. I had not noticed this verse before, but it is a good apologetics verse. It tells us that written or spoken prophecies are a proof that God is God, because He knows the future. This verse calls on the idols to give prophecies to prove they are gods. They cannot do that because they are dead. Their holy books do not have prophecies, because they are not the true Word of God. The Bible's prophecies show us that it is inspired by the One True God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 43-44 and I Thessalonians 2.
Isaiah 41 contains a great word picture for God's power in our lives. The right hand was a symbol of power. Therefore, verse 10 says that God will uphold us with His right hand. However, it goes one step further. It says that to do this He will hold our right hand. (v.13) That is a picture of us giving up our power to rest in Him and trust His powerful right hand to protect us. I will never forget hearing our missionary friend Phillip Lyons share this in our church. It is such a wonderful way of saying that we must give in to the Lord, and He will take care of us. Then, we will see what only the hand of the Lord can do. (v.20)
Then, Isaiah 42 exalts Jesus as the One sent by God to save us from the idols. He has the Spirit of God. (v.1) He is a gentle, meek Savior. (v.2-3) However, He will establish justice. God will give Him His glory, which He shares with no one else. (v.8) That shows us that Jesus is God. Therefore, Isaiah calls on everyone to turn to the Lord and forsake the dead idols. That is why God was punishing His people then, and that is why He has to punish us today. He will not let us destroy our lives by sinning with idols without trying to turn us away from them. He is a truly Loving God.
I Thessalonians 1 gives us an example of a group of people who had forsaken their idols to follow Jesus. The believers in Thessalonica were an example to all in the area. (v.7) They were missionaries. They were going out to others to show them the way to forsake their idols and trust Jesus, too. (v.8-9) They were known for the faith, love, and hope. (v.3) None of those things came in their own strength, but as they put their right hand in God's mighty right hand when they came to trust Jesus and turn from their sin.
Also, look at Isaiah 41:23 as a side note. I had not noticed this verse before, but it is a good apologetics verse. It tells us that written or spoken prophecies are a proof that God is God, because He knows the future. This verse calls on the idols to give prophecies to prove they are gods. They cannot do that because they are dead. Their holy books do not have prophecies, because they are not the true Word of God. The Bible's prophecies show us that it is inspired by the One True God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 43-44 and I Thessalonians 2.