Sunday Scripture

I've been reading Isaiah lately and I think it is possibly my new favorite book from the Old Testament (although Deuteronomy has been my favorite for a long time). Here is some of what I was reading this morning. I have been especially surprised at how often the themes of both "grace" and "glory" seem to come up. May the Lord bless you today as you live according to your created purpose: Don't know what that is? Check out the passage below and see if you can find it!

Isaiah 43
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.

Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.

I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—

everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”

Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
who have ears but are deaf.

All the nations gather together
and the peoples assemble.

Which of them foretold this
and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.

Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.
I, even I, am the Lord,
and apart from me there is no savior.

I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god among you.

You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?”

This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“For your sake I will send to Babylon
and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians,
in the ships in which they took pride.

I am the Lord, your Holy One,
Israel's Creator, your King.”

This is what the Lord says—

he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the desert
and streams in the wasteland,

to give drink to my people, my chosen,
the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.


Did you see it? We were created for HIS glory! (I know, I helped you a little bit with the color - maybe next week I'll make it a little more challenging).

Oh, that we might truly live for HIS glory, that we might proclaim HIS praise in the desert. If only we could truly understand the magnitude of HIS grace - that HE has redeemed us, chosen us, loves us, and is with us.

May you truly understand HIS grace and HIS glory today and forever,

Jen