ESOCS Devotional 3 January 2021
TEXT: ISAIAH 62:1-12
MEMORY VERSE: “… You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name.” Isaiah 62:2 NKJV
All through the Bible, God’s recurrent desire is to make all things new. The Bible says, “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Rev. 21:5 NIV). The world is corrupt with the presence of sin and evil. He would create a new heaven and a new earth (Isa. 65:17). He would give us a new heart and a new spirit (Ezek. 11:19). He would bring down the New Jerusalem from heaven (Rev. 3:12; 21:2).
In our memory verse today, God made a promise to all those who would be diligent to submit themselves to Him, so that He would work in them and make them to become what He wants them to be, like Christ. He said that for their sake He would not rest until their “righteousness goes forth as brightness, and [their] salvation as a lamp that burns” (v 1). The world would see the brightness of their righteousness, the glory of God in them, and the purity of their hearts, minds, and souls (v 2). They will become “a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of [their] God” (v 3).
God is a willing and tireless worker. His most important work is to make all things beautiful for the benefit of man, that is, our benefit. As He begins or continues to work in us (our heart and mind) this year, let us cooperate with Him by yielding ourselves to Him completely, and without reservations. It is a right thing to do. The Bible says, “… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13 NKJV). Part of the ways we could work out our salvation is to submit ourselves to God and surrender to Him absolutely. The Scripture counsels us, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 NKJV).
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
If we have lived ungodly life, it is time to turn to God for a fruitful relationship with Him. This would be possible only if we hand over to Him our whole being. If in our Christian life we have always fallen into and out of sin many times, the time to stop that trend is now. But this would be possible only if we would come to the Lord humbly and lay our weaknesses before Him. If we possess unchristian characters and attitudes, we should desire and seek to forsake them by going to the Lord for help and outright cleansing, for without Him we cannot stop them (John 15:5 ). If we have not taken the Christian race seriously and our feebleness makes it difficult for us to be firm and resolute about it, let us run to the Lord with all sincerity. He knows what to do and how to go about doing it.
He is interested in cleaning the bad records of our past life in order that we may live in a new era in which we would have the right relationship with Him. He would give newness of life. He has promised, “… I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Heb. 8:12)
CHALLENGES
It is time to think deeply about the way we live and be hungry for a closer walk with Jesus.
PRAYER POINT
Lord, I submit myself to you now and forever completely, and pray that you make me become what you want me to be.
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 15:1-16:5; 1 John 1:1-2:6; Revelation 19:10
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ESOCS Devotional 3 January 2021
