October 2

Isaiah 66:1-24; Philippians 3:4-31; Psalm 74:1-23; Proverbs 24:15-16

Lord Jesus,

We want to know you and know the power of your resurrection (Ph. 3:10).  We want to experience the fellowship that comes from sharing - just in part - in your sufferings.  We want to become like you in your death: obedient, purified, given new life.

We are far from this point, but we are committed to moving toward this desire (Ph. 3:12).  We do not want to be held back by our past.  We are no longer captive to our sin.  Instead, we look ahead and move forward in faith (vs. 13-14).

You gave us so very much through your death, burial, and resurrection.  "Let us live up to what we have already attained" (Ph. 3:16).

Amen.

- Sarah Marsh

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

October 1

Is. 62:6-65:25; Phil. 2:19-3:4a; Psalm 73:1-28; Prov. 24:13-14

The heart of God is to bless His people.

In Scripture we see this again and again: God is kind, God is generous, God is faithful. And we see his heart to bless his people. Isaiah reminds us of that today: God longs to bless His people—that is his nature; that is his heart. Why did God’s own arm work salvation (Is. 63:5)? In order that, according to verse 8, “He [would] become their Savior…in his love and mercy he [would redeem] them.” From the days of Moses and Abraham, God “acts on behalf of those who wait for Him”(64:4).

Look at the blessings God longs to bestow on those who obey Him. “They will be called Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord....My servants will eat...drink…rejoice…and sing out of the joy of their hearts....They will build houses and dwell in them, they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit, no longer will they build houses and others will live in them or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree so will be the days of my people…they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants after them, before they call I will answer” (65:12, 13, 21-23, emphases mine).

Yes, those promises were written to Israel over 2000 years ago, but they are as alive and true today as when they were written. God cannot change; He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His character cannot change—if He was kind and generous to Israel, so He will be to us today.

And his character is that He longs to bless His people. If we obey Him, and follow Him, and spend our lives in seeking to know Him, He will bless us.

Asaph agrees. “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart” (Ps. 73:1).

And so does the wise man of Proverbs 24:14: “Know also that wisdom is sweet for your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you.…”

There is a future hope and it is good.

Thank you, Lord, for your immense kindness to us, your people, whom you love and bless.

- Nell Sunukjian

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.