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September 30

Scripture for today: Isaiah 60:1-62:5; Philippians 1:27-2:18; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 24:11-12

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“Because I love Zion, I will not keep still. Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch” (Isaiah 62:1 NLT).

From: September 30, 2018

DO YOU PRAY FOR YOUR CITY?
The prophet Isaiah declared his heart’s yearning to see Jerusalem shine for the Lord. His heart burned for this and so did his prayers.
 
I wonder. Do our hearts yearn for our city? So much so that we cannot keep still nor remain silent? Where are those who would pray as Isaiah did? Who will declare, “I will not stop praying for my city until righteousness and salvation shine in her”?

“Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.” (Proverbs 24:11 NKJV).

From: September 30, 2017

Wisdom of God through the pen of Solomon, whose name was from the Hebrew word, “Shalom” (“Peace”).
 
Two imperatives are given:
1) “Deliver” – Rescue those who are being carried toward death.
2) “Hold back” – Actively persuade those who are stumbling, as if intoxicated, towards their own demise.
 
Certainly, this instruction might be applied to the gospel ministry, wherein we are to both care for the physical needs of the poor and at the same time, proclaim the good news about Jesus to them. But the application that seems most relevant to our day is that of the young woman with an unplanned pregnancy. How can we “deliver” the unborn child from being carried to death through abortion? The child’s mother and father are being “drawn toward death” by what the culture calls an inconvenience. Yet Scripture calls us to help rescue the innocent victim of this modern insanity. However, the baby isn’t the only victim, for the mother is the one “stumbling to the slaughter.” She has come under a strong delusion that abortion isn’t murder, but only a medical procedure. The truth is, she will be wounded by this choice in body and soul for the rest of her life. She needs someone to lovingly “hold her back” from “stumbling” towards death as her best choice. Wisdom chooses life. Folly draws us toward death.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1 NKJV)

From: September 30, 2015

Isaiah prophesied to Israel of a coming “anointed” one who would be the Messiah (“Messiah” is Hebrew for “Anointed One,” or “Christ” which is Greek for the same). Around 700 years later the first part of the prophecy was fulfilled. The Messiah, who was Jesus the Christ, had come. After Jesus was baptized and spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted, he returned to His hometown of Nazareth where He attended the local synagogue as was His custom. As He stood up in the synagogue, He was handed the scroll of Isaiah to read. Turning to the verse above, He read it aloud and then declared, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). Most of the people of His hometown rejected Him, yet many in Israel believed. And to those who believed, He brought “good tidings, healing and liberty.” Jesus has fulfilled the first verse of Isaiah 61, soon He will return to fulfill the rest.

“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ” (Philippians 1:27 NLT)

From: September 30, 2014

Paul taught the Philippians that they should live as “citizens of heaven,” remembering the gospel in their conduct. When we live as worldly, our message has no consistency and our gospel comes across hypocritical. Our lives should be consistent with the good news we believe. Our lifestyle should in fact cause people to ask about our faith, so that the gospel comes out easily. One cannot be excluded from the other. We are called to both live and share the Good News.

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13)

From: September 30, 2013

We are born with muscles that God created for us to have. Yet, it is up to us to work them out. Spiritually, when we receive salvation, God begins a new work in us, so that we are born again. In this new birth we yield to God’s work in us by working it out. We can depend on God’s power not only to help us work it out, but even to give us the willpower (or “won’t-power”) to act. Are you working out what God is working in?

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13)

From: September 30, 2012

Since God (has done/is doing/will do) a work in us, we must work out what He is working in. God gives us a physical muscle, but we must work it out. In the same way, when we believe, God does a work in us that gives us both the “desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” Now, it is up to us to work out of that which He has worked in us. We can exercise our faith and yield to the Spirit, so that God’s work in us becomes obvious to all. Start flexing your spiritual muscles!