OCTOBER 2
This is the
final day in Isaiah. If you've been keeping up, you really, really owe yourself
a treat. I'd recommend a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino at Starbucks©. Or, just find
a quiet place and page through Isaiah in a normal Bible and see what you
remember. Without a doubt, you have been blessed in reading this in ways you
might not even know.
Isaiah 66
Vs. 1-2 Read
this and think about it. Do you get the point of what God is saying?
Jesus quotes a
part of v. 1 in the Sermon on the Mount when He tells His disciples not to make
vows to God.
If you
understand what God and Isaiah are saying here, this is the same thought Paul
expresses in the last two verses of Romans 11 and the first two verses of
Romans 12. I'm willing to bet these two verses of Isaiah were in Paul's mind
when he was writing those verses in Romans. I'll ask him when I get to see him.
Vs. 3-4 If our
hearts are not obedient to His Word, this is what God thinks of our worship and
religious routine, even as believers.
When I spoke they did not listen, reminds me of Jesus saying, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
V. 5 Notice
that this is addressed to those who truly are the Lord's, that is, those who tremble at His Word. Notice too, the
trembling in v. 2. How is your "trembling?"
The words of
the brothers here must be either insincere or meant as mockery.
Vs. 6-9 God
uses the illustration of labor to say to Israel, "I haven't brought you
through all of this to not complete my purpose for you."
Vs. 10-14 So
Jerusalem gives birth and all will find consolation and comfort and will nurse
there. Interesting. According to Ezekiel and Revelation, there will be a river
running out of the temple. On each side of it there will be trees that bear
fruit monthly, and there will be healing in the leaves. (Rev. 22:2) The people
of the world will come to Jerusalem for healing, and after the Tribulation,
they're going to need it. God is going to offer blessing for all who come to
His city. And of course the best thing about Jerusalem will be the guy sitting
on the throne in the temple.
It will still
apparently be a matter of the will for people to come to Jerusalem. Even during
the Millennial Kingdom and at the end of it, not everyone will like Jesus.
Sin's dominance doesn't need Satan's deception. We can be rebellious all by
ourselves if we don't recognize what sin truly is (an incurable spiritual
disease) and our need of a Savior.
Vs. 15-17 This
judgment seems to be the Messiah judging the nations in opposition to Israel at
the end of the Tribulation. Or, it could be a warning for those who rebel
against the Messiah and His servant Israel at the end of the thousand years,
when Satan is released and finds those ready to wage war against Israel.
Vs. 18-21 This
seems to say that Israel will be a servant to all the nations, declaring God's
glory to all who don't have an opportunity to come to Jerusalem.
Vs. 22-24 This
is after the thousand-year reign of Jesus on earth. There will be a new heaven
and a new earth, and there will be a final judgment. (Rev. 21:1-2)
I can't wait. I
was reading this morning, For I consider
that the sufferings of
this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed
to us. Now, we have the Lord
and the Spirit burning in us as we work in the harvest on this dying planet.
But the Day is coming.
Philippians 3:4-21
Vs. 4-6 This isn't Paul bragging, but he is really trying to
make the Philippians see that they shouldn't be impressed by
"credentials." Paul had been the real thing and threw it all away for
Jesus.
Vs. 7-11 Notice that the focus of all of this is knowing
Jesus. In the past, Paul discovered that salvation by grace through faith meant
knowing Christ. Now, even 30 years down the road Paul is still striving to know
Christ more. That, I think, is the mark of a disciple who never tires in the
harvest and doesn't get older, just wiser and stronger. Knowing our Lord isn't
academic or knowledge-oriented; it is a daily ongoing walk. We follow Him in
the harvest and He reveals Himself more and more in ways we could never guess.
That is why it is by faith. (John 14:21-23)
V. 12 And here is Paul's motivation.
So many believers seem to have the mindset that they got
saved, and now they're going to heaven; so the goal is to go to church, enjoy
life and stay out of trouble. Knowing Christ is our personal goal, the goal of
every disciple. Read that prayer again at the end of Ephesians 3. It all has to
do with knowing Jesus and His love.
But Paul's goal here is knowing Christ in such a way that, if
possible, he could live on earth as if he were perfectly following Christ. The
goal was being so fully focused on Jesus and the blessings and grace available
in Him, that Paul would honor God as if he had been resurrected. I'm sure Paul
knew this was impossible in this body of death; but if you aim at nothing, you
hit it every time. Paul aimed high out of love for Jesus. But that was only for
Paul, right?
Vs. 13-14 Paul had a lot to forget from the past. He looked at
the future (that's why God has also given us all that stuff in Isaiah) and
strained forward in the present. And again, this is only recommended for
disciples on steroids, like Paul. Right?
Vs. 15-16 Wrong. It is meant to be the norm for every one of
us. It is what makers of disciples are to model so as to make disciples who
model the same. A disciple is not above his teacher; but every disciple, when
he is fully trained, will be like his teacher.
Vs. 17-21 The important thing to see in these verses is that
Paul was not crying over lost humanity; he was crying over fallen followers,
disciples who defected.
Notice where the focus is, on Jesus and the coming
transformation of this body of death. That is our personal hope in the
resurrection. You see this expressed in Romans 8 when Paul talks about how the
creation is waiting for our redemption.
In the opening verses of Isaiah 66, we had God looking for
those who trembled, who were awed by and honored His Word in their hearts and
actions. What Paul is saying here is the same thing, just in a different way.
The natural response to Christ giving His life for us is to give Him our hearts
and do what He says. This involves following Him in the harvest and being
treated as He was treated, but also bearing fruit as He bore fruit and
glorified the Father. It is simple discipleship.
Psalm
74
Isn't it interesting to read this psalm, having read Isaiah?
Notice that the appeal for help focuses more on God defending His name, than
defending His people.
Vs. 1-2 The plea to remember the people, His heritage and
Zion.
Vs. 3-8 When the Babylonians burned the temple, the gold on
the paneling melted and went into crevices between the foundation stones of the
temple. They removed these stones to get at the gold. When they were done, the
temple was completely ruined.
Vs. 9-11 These are the age old questions. However, Isaiah's
ministry revealed the people's hearts. When they had the Word they should have
responded. Hearing the Word and ignoring it makes a people dull and ungrateful.
When the Word comes to Israel again, it will be like living water. Knowing the
love of Christ, the Word and the plan of God is enough to get us through all
the rough spots. It is something that God continually teaches us in His
"silence."
Vs. 12-17 But, as in Job and in Isaiah, what is known about
God, His wisdom in creation and His love, are the things we cling to when He is
"silent."
Vs. 18-23 God should see the actions of the nations as an
attack on Him and do something about it. He does and He will.
Proverbs
24:15-16
Amen.
If you’re reading along
and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these
comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in
growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see
the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples,
meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out
and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal
manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us
more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are
only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of
God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are
designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is
that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a
year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples,
disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more
descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the
Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the
commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never
hurts.
I am not endorsing any
particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte
Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with
us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their
own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular
tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to
criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has
written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
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