6 Minute Read
Be Still
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a couple of minutes to breathe deeply, to quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, prayerfully ask the Lord to speak to you in this time and let Him know that you will be listening and will make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Today’s Bible Reading:
Isaiah 1:1–2:22
2 Corinthians 10:1-18
Psalm 52:1-9
Proverbs 22:26-27
Listen to the Lord
Slowly and reflectively read the following verses and listen to what God will say to you through them. Then, consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Isaiah 1:18 (NLT): “‘Come now, let’s settle this,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.’”
Reflections from Scripture:
The God we serve is so wonderful!
The Bible presents Him as a God who is thoroughly just and must punish sinners. Yet, He is also described as a God of faithful love who is slow to anger and enjoys lavishing grace upon people.
When we come to Isaiah 1:18, we see His goodness and grace. He invites us to come to Him with our sin and the stain of those sins, and to walk away forgiven and clean.
But, God cannot simply overlook sin. He is just, and our sins require punishment. Friend, that’s what the cross of Jesus is about.
The cross is the place where God demonstrated His love and grace. God loves us so much that He sent His own Son to take our punishment.
Yet, the cross also is the place where God demonstrates His justice and wrath. God despises sin so much that He demanded that a death sentence be administered.
So while the cross shows us God’s justice and wrath, it also shows us God’s love and grace. He sent His Son to pay OUR sin debt if only we will place our trust in Him! Because of Jesus, we can come to God, broken over our sin, and walk away free and forgiven!
John 3:16 (NLT): “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Isaiah 1:18 (NLT): “‘Come now, let’s settle this,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.’”
What a wonderful God we serve!
Spend Time in Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me so much that You paid my sin debt for me on that cross. Thank You also for graciously giving me the ability to stop placing my trust in myself and to put my trust in You to gain God’s favor. Help me, Lord Jesus, to live the rest of my life demonstrating my gratitude for such a gift! I pray this in Your Name, Amen.
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com). His latest book is God’s Grace in the Real World. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
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