[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟜𝟘:𝟛𝟘-𝟛𝟙
"Though youths grow weary and
tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will
run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary."
It's not easy but better to wait on
God than to do it by ourselves!
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟜𝟙:𝟙𝟜
""Do not fear, you worm
Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you," declares the LORD, "and
your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel."
Interesting! God comforted them not
to fear, but He still reminded them of their contemptuous nature.
Actually, I like it this way! I
love to provoke people into doing good sometimes by piercing them. Last time my
friend @Lalit Pune said that I spared no man even my professors 😬😂😎
It's not enough to say 'God loves
you,' it must be said "God loves you, wretched filthy sinners." But
with a lot of courage and caution! 😎
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟜𝟚:𝟙𝟜
"I have kept silent for a long
time, I have kept still and restrained Myself. Now like a woman in labor I will
groan, I will both gasp and pant."
Hmmm! Indeed, there are times when
God is silent but not unaware of or uncaring. He shall break forth again. I am
no woman nor a doctor who has seen a woman delivering a baby but the metaphor
used here is very telling.
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟜𝟛:𝟟
"Everyone who is called by My
name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I
have made."
Purpose of Creation: to glorify
God.
Purpose of Creature: to glorify
God.
Purpose of Creator: to glorify God.
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟜𝟜:𝟟-𝟠
"'Who is like Me? Let him
proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time
that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things
that are coming And the events that are going to take place. 'Do not tremble
and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared
it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any
other Rock? I know of none.'"
Indeed, there's none like God.
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟜𝟝:𝟡
"Woe to the one who quarrels
with his Maker-- An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the
clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say,
'He has no hands'?"
How depressed is a man who quarrels
with his creator! I feel sad for such person. I once was. It wasn't nice
personally.
How depressed is a man who is angry
with God! How depressed is a man who is disappointed with God!
However, from my own experience
(though it's not much), and from my thinking (though not a philosopher), and
from what I have read and seen, I've learned that those who are angry,
disappointed, and quarrel with God aren't that depressed yet!
When somebody is at the end of his
resources, he begs, he surrenders!
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟜𝟞:𝟛-𝟜
"Listen to Me, O house of
Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been borne by
Me from birth And have been carried from the womb; Even to your old age I will
be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it,
and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you."
Wow! What a promise! What a
faithfulness of God! What a comfort His people must have!
Well, this is said to the house of
Jacob, but we do have the same God whose promise is great, faithful, and
comforting.
I am uncertain of many things in my
life, but I am certain God will work out everything for my own good!
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟜𝟟:𝟙𝟝
"So have those become to you
with whom you have labored, Who have trafficked with you from your youth; Each
has wandered in his own way; There is none to save you."
If God is determined to punish, who
can save!? The Lord's will shall be done!
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟜𝟠:𝟙𝟘-𝟙𝟙
"Behold, I have refined you,
but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own
sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My
glory I will not give to another."
God cares about His glory. And He
will make sure, every creature will glorify Him and Him alone. If that's is not
your delight, how miserable are you because that's what going to happen anyway.
How happy (blessed) are you if the glory of God is your delight because it
shall last forever!
God's glory is not something
humiliating or depriving. It's something to enjoy and be satisfied with. If
not, one has no idea what the glory of God is! Like Moses, we should pray,
"Show me Your Glory, Lord"
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟜𝟡:𝟙𝟝-𝟙𝟞
"Can a woman forget her
nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may
forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of
My hands; Your walls are continually before Me."
One of the earliest songs I learned
in school is taken out from this verse. Indeed, how awesome is my God!
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟝𝟘:𝟞-𝟠
"I gave My back to those who
strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My
face from humiliation and spitting. For the Lord GOD helps Me, Therefore, I am
not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will
not be ashamed. He who vindicates Me is near; Who will contend with Me? Let us
stand up to each other; Who has a case against Me? Let him draw near to
Me."
ℍ𝕦𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟
to 𝕍𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟝𝟙:𝟙𝟚
"I, even I, am He who comforts
you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who
is made like grass,"
God wants us to fear nobody but
only Him.
However, people fear man and neglect
God! 😬
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟝𝟚:𝟟
"How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good
news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, ‘Your God
reigns’"
Oh! Would the Lord bring back the
high view of the calling of preaching! Cause the preachers to delight in His
commission and the people to see the beauty of good news, Lord! 🙏
𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙
𝟝𝟛:𝟝
"But He was pierced through
for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for
our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed."
My Lord, what love is this that You
noticed my vainglorious life and took up the chastening for it upon Yourself!