Saturday 2 Jan 2010

Saturday Reading: Isaiah 41:10-11
 
Key Verse: Isaiah 41:10
10  Do not fear; for I am with you; be not dismayed; for I am your God. I will make you strong; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.

Devotion:
When God speaks to us we can be sure that it will be tender though strict, harsh but just, reproving but loving. What we do have to remember is that God is always with us; no matter how much of a pickle we get ourselves in, no matter how much we let others down, God is the one who will never leave us nor forsake us. How awesome is that! Just think about it... How great would it have been to have someone by your side when you were heading for a fight you knew you could not win? How great would it have been to have someone to bail you out when you hit hard times? If you have ever been in that sort of situation then you know exactly where I am coming from!

But when God says “Do not fear; for I am with you” then you need to know exactly what He is saying. He is not saying, yes I am over here watching over you like a parent at the edge of a pay area. He is not saying I am watching you and will bail you out when you have hit rock bottom. What He is saying is that He is right here, right now! It is not just because He is everywhere, all powerful and all knowing... it is because He wants to be with you, right here and right now! His promise is not just to be here but to give us the comfort strength and guidance that we need at this exact time. He is giving it all to us and saying that He wants us to have it – just because of His awesome love for us!

When people come up against us and we place ourselves squarely in God’s hands, then we are not only in the safest place but He has also promised us that He will make things right. It’s not a case of we must do something for Him so that He does something for us. It is not a case of us getting something out of the deal – far too often we do think in that way. No, it’s just a case of His love covers our sins and through Christ we are able to commune with God. Through that communion we are able to receive, quite openly and fully, His grace, mercy and love.

Points to Ponder:
Are you sparing some time for God?
 
Why not commune with God instead?