ESOCS Devotional 13 January 2022
MEMORY VERSE:
“And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another” 1 Corinthians 4:6 KJV
As praise for present blessings followed the First Advent (Isaiah 61:1-11), so praise for past blessings (Isaiah 63:7-14) here follows the Second Advent, and rightly so! In our Bible passage today, Isaiah takes his place with the people of God, though he remains their prophet who laments sin before God. God’s grace in the history of Israel was steadfast and loyal. When Egypt afflicted God’s children, they afflicted God. God is the enemy of those who work against His work (Lam. 2:3-5). Israel was the work of God to bring the Saviour of all men into the world. But because of their apostasy, they worked against this plan. He worked against them with discipline in order to preserve a remnant that would remain in the land until the coming of the Messiah. Any rebellion against the Lord or His word always, and without fail, “vexes the Holy Spirit”, without Whom we simply cannot succeed or survive.
In order for one to repent, it is necessary to remember the former times when one faithfully walked with God. When Israel, in her apostasy, remembered how God had brought the nation out of Egyptian captivity through the leadership of Moses, they yearned for those days. They yearned for God to work again in the nation in order to deliver them from their enemies. He sustained them by the Holy Spirit who worked within them and defended them.
God did all He did for Israel order to give evidence to the world that He was the only God and that Israel was His people (Exo 9:16). What He did before, He can replicate again (Heb. 13:8). Being Israel’s generation, let’s remember to always praise our God and pray for pardon and preservation. Then, the Lord will “remember the days of old”. He will remember His covenants and deal with us again (Lev 26:33-43; Deut. 30:1-10)
- Identify the factors limiting your ability to praise God and pray to Him the way you should.
- Pray to our Heavenly Father to give you the grace to praise and worship Him the way you should.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 44: 23-28; Luke 5:27-39; 1 Corinthians 4:14-21
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ESOCS Devotional 13 January 2022
