Adorned

I delight greatly in the LORD; 

my soul rejoices in my God. 

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation 

and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, 

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, 

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.                Isa 61.10

I believe I was created for God’s delight. He formed me in His own image. This is amazing; it is powerful, even overwhelming. I exist in the image of God Almighty, my heavenly Father. I am in His image, but my own person is marred by the stains of sin. This is well known to God. But He has dealt with it as only He can. By the vicarious death of His Son He has rescued me from the clutches of sin and death and He has restored me into right relationship with Himself: …he has clothed me with garments of salvation. No longer do I wear the “filthy rags” of sin. I have been reclothed and my God has covered me in a robe of righteousness.

The imagery is that of a bridegroom and a bride. Their appearance is pure and even divine. They stand clean and free. These are the true children of God.

This mage applies to me. No longer am I confined to the world’s specifications and view of me. I have been liberated to be the person God created me to be. Am I royalty? Maybe, but more importantly I am brought into my heavenly inheritance. I am marked with the wonder of holiness. His presence is upon me and within me. Sanctification is underway in my life. I am moving to become the stain free, holy bridegroom ready to join in union with my Master. I give myself willingly.

Holy Father,

I see You with arms outstretched to receive me. I feel the welcome of love releasing me from worldly trouble and toil and taking me into the heavenly realm. I join with angels and the saints who have gone before. I feel at home. I am a child of glory, and glory welcomes me. Hallelujah!            Amen.

Justice and judgment

“For I, the LORD, love justice; 

I hate robbery and iniquity. 

In my faithfulness I will reward them 

and make an everlasting covenant with them.”              Isa 61.8

My God is great. He is powerful, all-mighty, all-loving, kind and gracious. He is forgiving, but He is also just. He will not tolerate injustice.

The Israelites had been extremely bad in their behaviour towards God. They had turned away from Him, spurning His sovereignty and love, and giving themselves over to alien ways. God was both disappointed and angry with his people. In His justice he sought to punish them. He did so by utilising foreign powers to invade the land and take His people captive. In captivity, the Israelites suffered. Both Assyria and Babylon were ruthless masters. God’s people were well and truly punished. God’s justice had been served.

Now was the time for God’s promise to be fulfilled. He had said He would return His people to their own land at the end of seventy years. He did so. (The wonderful love of God is seen in His fulfilment of all His promises. Praise Him!) The people returned home, and God rewarded them richly.

However, the alien countries that God had used to punish His people had overdone the treatment they had dished out. Rather than just punishment they had persecuted the chosen of the Lord. The Lord saw this hateful activity and brought judgment and punishment on these pagan offenders.

God is just, and His justice will be served. I am strengthened by this. I may well be judged and maybe punished by Him in time, but I shall know that it will be just – and merciful.

Mighty God, 

Even though I try to do what is right by You, I do not always succeed. I believe that I will be judged by You one day. I am not fearful of this because I know You are just and fair. I throw myself on Your mercy, believing all will be well. Thank You.            Amen.

Change

… to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour 

and the day of vengeance of our God, 

to comfort all who mourn, and to provide 

for those who grieve in Zion – 

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, 

the oil of gladness instead of mourning, 

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. 

They will be called oaks of righteousness, 

a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendour. 

                                                                                            Isa. 61. 2,3 

This is a long quotation and filled with interest. The year of the Lord’s favour could well apply to the time of salvation for the individual. The day of vengeance is to come but, meanwhile, the life of the believer continues in hopeful growth of deeper and more intimate relationship with our Maker.

The Messiah will comfort all those who mourn. Those who grieve will be provided for. God’s children change when they enter into the journey with Him. The ashes of sorrow are replaced by a crown of beauty; the spirit of despair is removed and a garment of praise takes its place. The children of God grow strong in righteousness. They are like solid oaks on the ground and the splendour of God emanates from them.

There is a mighty change in the one who comes to Jesus. A new confidence fills him/her. This is not a worldly type of assurance in themselves, but a connection and relationship with the Power of all powers. The believer presses into God, learning of all that is available in new birth. A confidence in God replaces all attempts at demonstrating self-confidence. I don’t even claim confidence in myself any more. My full confidence is in Him. He is my strength and my shield, my protector and my provider. I need no other.

O Mighty God,

I am so grateful that You took hold of me. I find my confidence in You. I put my full trust in You. I do not fear, nor do I become anxious. You tell me not to do these things, and so I do not. I will find all that I need in You. I look to You. I give myself to journey with You I thank You.                 Amen.

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Salvation

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.                             Isa 61. 1

This verse says so much about God’s sweet work of salvation. Salvation is most certainly God’s work. He may choose to use humans in the process of bringing others to the cross of Christ, but the work is His, and His alone.

The Spirit is God, and He works in tandem with the Father and the Son in the processes of salvation, conversion, and sanctification. The good news is preached, and the lost respond. This is the essence of salvation.

God is love. He desires to reach out to all people and to draw them to Him. He may work in them – changing, healing, equipping and empowering. He brings good things to the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives and the prisoners. This may well apply to most, if not all, people.

God is the destination, Jesus is the way, and the Spirit is the enabler. The Triune God works in the lives of those He calls to Himself.

Jesus declared the words of this verse (Isa. 61.1) over Himself in the synagogue at Nazareth. He lived out this commission. I believe, as we give ourselves to follow Him, so we, too, may be used by God to fulfil these blessings. We will bless others but in the process we shall be blessed ourselves.

How good God is! His reach is endless. His love is limitless. His desire is for all to come to Him, that no one should perish. In this world today, I see the Spirit as the holy agent. I offer myself freely into His way.

Lord God,

I come to You at the start of this new day. I look to journey through the day in company with You. I pray that You will lead me into the works that release people from the bondages and trials of life. I offer myself to be used by You. Amen.

Everlasting light

The sun will no more be your light by day, 

nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, 

for the LORD will be your everlasting light, 

and your God will be your glory. 

Your sun will never set again, 

and your moon will wane no more, 

the LORD will be your everlasting light, 

and your days of sorrow will end.                        Isa 60.19, 20

Through as long as humans have existed, I think light has come from the sun and the moon. Mankind has discovered the light of fire, and invented other forms of lighting but these are nothing compared with the natural illumination of sun and moon.

Now God prophesies that the sun and moon will not be needed to provide light, for He will bring His own brightness and glory to fill the world. What a wonderful day this will be!

Unlike the sun and moon, the light of the Lord will not dim. It will shine brightly in all time. It will fill the earth with the glory of God. It will last forever.

When the light of the Lord comes in reality and truth, all sorrow will end. Without sorrow, we might assume the absence of grief, heartache and trial. These things may be replaced by joy and the utmost well-being. The times will be glorious, the people content and happy.

When will this change come about? God alone knows. It will come in His time. It will be established in His way. He will be the originator, the Creator, and we will be the beneficiaries.

Most Glorious God,

I thrill at these words of hope and promise. Your light will come fully into this world. The darkness will be dispelled, and glorious light will burst forth. There will be no shadowy corners, all will be bright and shining. The glory of God will dazzle the whole of creation, which will respond in brilliant radiance.

Lord, we await the shining of Your light.               Amen.

Riches

Then you will look and be radiant, 

your heart will throb and swell with joy; 

the wealth of the seas will be brought to you, 

to you the riches of the nations will come.                      Isa 60. 5

Isaiah has talked of the light and the glory of God coming upon the people. The world may be in darkness, but God’s people are firmly in the light. The consequence of God’s light and glory on the people is His blessing on them.

God is over all. He is in control, and all of creation is at His command – He will bring prosperity to His people – the wealth of the seas and the riches of the nations – God’s people will not be in want.

This is good, yet what is more wonderful to me is the visage and outlook of the people. Their appearance is one of radiance. This will show on the outside but emanates from the inside: …Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col.1.27)

The hearts of the believers will throb and swell with joy. I know from my experiences when the Holy Spirit is at work within me, I feel as if I’m going to burst. Such is the effect of His presence in me that I cannot help myself from releasing and sharing the wonder of Almighty God in me.

As this (God’s working in us and His light and glory shining forth) manifests within us, I believe Christians should freely and gloriously let it out.

The. World is, generally, spiritually poor. Many see Christians as enmeshed in piety, glum and severe, bound up and lacking “joie de vivre”. The reality ought to be the opposite. We (believers) have a joy that the world does not know. We are in intimate relationship with the Almighty. It needs to show. Whilst Jesus is in me, I need also to let Him out, to let the world see the wonder of our relationship, and the joy it brings.

Lord Jesus,

I pray that Your light will continue to shine bright and powerfully in and through me. Let me show the world the wonderful dynamic of our relationship. Let me share it and know that it is fruitful.       Amen.

Illuminated

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, 

and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth 

and thick darkness is over its peoples, 

but the LORD rises upon you 

and his glory appears over you.”                Isa. 60.1,2

This is a most wonderful passage. Two words stand out for me: light, and glory.

The world is in darkness. Thick darkness covers the peoples of the earth, shutting out any light and allowing them no illumination or sight. Those things they need to see, and maybe even want to see, are hidden from them. It is possible that many do not know they are in darkness. They may be absorbed in worldly pursuits, and seemingly prospering in. them. Yet they are in the dark, even if they do not know it!

God brings enlightenment. All who truly come to Him will move out of the darkness and into the glorious light of revelation, salvation, and love.

The light emanates from the Godhead. Father, Son, and Spirit dazzle with the light that is a part of them. But they do not hold the light unto themselves. It is freely available to the believer. It is God’s light, but it is also my light. When I give. myself wholeheartedly to Jesus, His light shines on me; His light fills me, and His light shines forth from me.

The words though the prophet say: …your light has come. I believe he’s talking about me. The light Christ gives becomes my light. In Jesus I am lit up – to shine brightly into all the world, bringing illumination and revelation to those who stumble about in the darkness. The light brings forth the glory of the Lord shining upon me. I am mindful of Moses’ face when the Lord passed by him. He glowed with the glory of God. May I also glow – brightly and brilliantly, in the light and with the glory of my Great God.

Almighty,

I pray that the light of Jesus will shine upon me and totally infuse me with His presence. I seek the light that will shine through me, illuminating the path of Jesus in my journey through life. I dare to believe that the glory of God will arise on me. Hallelujah!          Amen.