Complete Victory

4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we likeContinue reading “Complete Victory”

The Foundation

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.” (Isaiah 51:1, ESV) Here the Lord gives words of encouragement to the faithful remnant of Israel who were pursuing righteousness. Israel was to endure theContinue reading “The Foundation”

Contrasts

“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.” (Isaiah 50:10, ESV) When I took a course in photography, I remember learning something about contrasts. We could take aContinue reading “Contrasts”

The Light of Hope

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6, ESV) When growing up, myContinue reading “The Light of Hope”

The Blessings of Faith

17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. 18 Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness likeContinue reading “The Blessings of Faith”

The Blessing

“remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,” (Isaiah 46:9, ESV) The motto, “In God we trust” is currently on our United States currency. This motto appeared on most U.S. coins since 1864. Most people would be surprised toContinue reading “The Blessing”

Syncretism

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:22, ESV) When I was younger, our family would take an annual vacation for two weeks in Cape Cod, primarily to fish for striped bass. On one occasion, someone suggested that we goContinue reading “Syncretism”

Unlikely Vessels

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself . . . who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘SheContinue reading “Unlikely Vessels”

Living Water and Fruitfulness

“3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. 4 They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. 5 This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s,’ another will callContinue reading “Living Water and Fruitfulness”

The Most Important Thing

1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelmContinue reading “The Most Important Thing”