Category Archives: Isaiah

Bridge builders

Posted on by shannonrainwater

Today’s Reading Isaiah 58-66

Have you ever built a bridge? (Probably not) Have you ever built a spiritual bridge? (Hopefully so.)
The priest in the Old Testament was instructed to do precisely that: build a bridge between holy God and sinful mankind. He did it through the offering of endless sacrifices, the blood of animals to cover the sins of a nation.
The nation of Israel was selected by God to be a bridge builder to surrounding nations, to show by her lifestyle of faith that God rewards those “that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
And the same job description has been passed down to you! As a Christian, you are to be salt in a bland world, light in the midst of darkness, and a priest bringing people back to God (Matthew 5:13-14; 1 Peter 2:9).
Think of today as a unique opportunity to build a bridge between a lost sinner and his loving God. Perhaps you can’t build an entire bridge in a single day, but you can begin that all-important process by your speech, conduct, and genuine concern in the life of another. Bridge-building. It’s time-consuming, costly – and worth whatever it takes!

Tomorrow we will have a lesson that will bring us back to Vacation Bible School days or for some AWANAs.
We are going to get a lesson in how to memorize verses. I’m thinking of have a memory verse for each week. Don’t worry no one is going to quiz you on it BUT it is a good idea to commit some verses to memory. That will be in the lesson.
Also we will be starting another book of the Bible, Romans

Suffering on Behalf of God’s People

Posted on by shannonrainwater

Today’s Reading Isaiah 52-57

The passage you will read for today contains the single most important piece of good news you will ever hear! I can be summarized in just three words: incarnation, redemption, invitation.
INCARNATION: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came in the flesh (53:2-3), becoming all ofGod in a human body.
REDEMPTION: He came to suffer and to die, to “make his soul an offering for sin” (53:10), to bear “the sin of many” (53:12)
INVITATION: He stands ready to provide mercy and forgiveness for all who will respond. “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters” (55:1)
What have you done with the invitation of the Suffering Servant? Have you ignored it, rejected it, or accepted it? If you have never done so, take Him at His word today. Say yes to the One who died that you might live eternally.

Finding Comfort in an Uncomfortable World

Posted on by shannonrainwater

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 40-43

What would need to happen for you to feel totally comfortable? Would you need to change some things concerning your finances? What about your job? Relationships with other people? Your Health? Your appearance? Or perhaps your academic performance? What would you need to change before you were able to be at total ease and peace and not have a worry in the world?

“I’d have to have all my bills paid!” I can hear all the Dave Ramsey fans shouting “AMEN!!” and “I’m debt freeee!!!”
 But then reality sets in and you know that you’ll have bills tomorrow.

“I’d have to have a fortune in the bank!”
But what if the bank went bankrupt and you lost it all?

“I’d have to enjoy perfect health!”
But what if you were in an accident and lost your ability to work?

Some of us might have in place measures to absorb some of these life’s blows but most have not. Suppose you are going through a tough time right now. And chances are if you are reading this you are going through some sort of life’s discomforts. How do you find comfort?
The measure of your comfort will always be the measure of your confidence in God. For Isaiah to declare “Comfort ye” after 39 chapters of judgement would seem ludicrous! Unless you recall who is providing the comfort! Write out the first five verses of chapter 40 on a notecard, and put it under your pillow, by your bedside, on top of your glasses, or somewhere you first look in the morning when you wake up. Let it be the first thing you look at and thought for thte day!
God will go before you all day — so relax and enjoy His presence!