He creates. We are His creation. There is one God. He goes before us. He calls us by name. He strengthens. There is none like Him. He made us and will rescue us. He brings justice. He is humility. He served. He is obedient. He is our light. He sends help.
8 “Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;
let the earth cause them both to sprout;
I the Lord have created it. – Isaiah 45:8
Hey Sarah, I am following the Bible in a year plan for the current dates, but I just want to say that I love seeing all of the comments you post! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and the application of those to your small group and college friends. May you be blessed as you seek the Lord and love others today!
Philippians 2:13 was one of the first verses that awakened my heart to the glory of God’s sovereignty over all things. Isaiah 46 also is a magnificent display of how God is so gracious to bring salvation. He says it and does it. He works it in us. Praise God for we know if left to ourselves we would rather starve than come.
4For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I name you, though you do not know me.
5I am the Lord, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
I’ve been marking in my Bible (open next to me while I read on the app so I can see what I’ve noted before) the places where “there is no other” have come up, and there are quite a few lately, a lot of comparisons to what God can do and idols can’t do: 43:10, 13; 44:6, 8; 45:5-6, 14, 18, 21-22; and 46:9
Ch 46 really struck me, too:
-Idols can’t bear burdens (Jesus can!)
-Idols are carried into captivity just like their worshippers, can’t move on their own (Jesus sets us free and isn’t limited by where we ‘take’ Him physically–He is spirit!).
-The Lord carries us from conception to birth to old age and gray hairs!
-Crying out to idols: they cannot answer or save
-Here again, God calls us to remember His faithfulness and reminds us that He WILL fulfill His purposes on earth. His salvation will not be delayed!
Why is there so much discussion about idols in Isaiah? This is a longer discussion, but goes back to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20: 3-4: “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol…” Throughout the OT, we see Israel struggling to obey these “top 2” commandments. Idolatry became a part of their daily worship, and they took them with them as they travelled and were exiled. Isaiah is trying to speak to this issue: God (Yahweh) is the only God, there is none other. Nothing you make or think up can save you. How easy it is to turn to what we can see or feel (or even think would be a ‘fix’) AS IF it offers what we need, which is a right relationship with our loving Father & Creator. No one, no thing can meet that need but Jesus. As we read in Eph 2, He made Himself nothing, humbling Himself even to death on a cross. For me, for YOU!! To be our ONE & ONLY source of salvation! No idols needed here.
I agree SarahMay! I was drawn to the same thing. My heart was shouting yes when it said, “burdens who can’t bear burdens”….so thankful for a God who is able to carry our burdens.
21 Declare and present your case;
let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the Lord?
And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
there is none besides me.”
This hit me hard today! There is NO ONE like our God!
I love how both passages today continually point to the glory of God. There is no greater purpose! I recently listened to Tim Keller’s sermon over Philippians 2:1-14 a few times (Imitating the Incarnate) and it is very thought provoking. How we are to have the mind of Christ by having our needs met in & through him, so we can go out and serve others.
12 times within our Isaiah reading did the Lord say: “there is none like me” or some variation of the term. There really is none like him. By no other means are we saved except by his blood, through his name. There is no other
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
This is a huge challenge for me this week to NOT complain!! To choose the Word of Life instead of grumbling about the little thing that go on through my day, especially at work. Complaining is “running in vain”!
This is me too right now with my health! I am facing a big health battle right now and I am working hard to not complain but to still be joyful in all things!
I confess h was one to lead out if fear once in my lifetime and just the other day found myself talking to a friend about leading with LOVE – consequences don’t motivate, but seeing potential in others does! Anyone who’s genuinely successful comes from humble beginning.
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
12-13 When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
I love this, God that you would help us live in responsive obedience. In response to your finished work and in response to the Holy Spirit everyday. The rest of this extract reminds me of a quote I read this week…
If you do thinks out of duty it will deplete you, but if you do things out of love, it will energise you. Yes! Just as this passage explains – God’s Deep reserves of energy within us.
“make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind”
He creates. We are His creation. There is one God. He goes before us. He calls us by name. He strengthens. There is none like Him. He made us and will rescue us. He brings justice. He is humility. He served. He is obedient. He is our light. He sends help.
❤️
❤️
❤️❤️
❤️
❤️
8 “Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;
let the earth cause them both to sprout;
I the Lord have created it. – Isaiah 45:8
Beautifully said!
✅
3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
✝️
✝️
“Does the clay say to the potter ‘what are you making?’” What a visual reminder of our limited point of view!
Hey Sarah, I am following the Bible in a year plan for the current dates, but I just want to say that I love seeing all of the comments you post! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and the application of those to your small group and college friends. May you be blessed as you seek the Lord and love others today!
9remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
Philippians 2:13 was one of the first verses that awakened my heart to the glory of God’s sovereignty over all things. Isaiah 46 also is a magnificent display of how God is so gracious to bring salvation. He says it and does it. He works it in us. Praise God for we know if left to ourselves we would rather starve than come.
22“Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
4For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I name you, though you do not know me.
5I am the Lord, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
Is. 26:10: I declare the end from the beginning,
and from long ago what is not yet done,
saying: my plan will take place,
and I will do all my will.
I’ve been marking in my Bible (open next to me while I read on the app so I can see what I’ve noted before) the places where “there is no other” have come up, and there are quite a few lately, a lot of comparisons to what God can do and idols can’t do: 43:10, 13; 44:6, 8; 45:5-6, 14, 18, 21-22; and 46:9
Ch 46 really struck me, too:
-Idols can’t bear burdens (Jesus can!)
-Idols are carried into captivity just like their worshippers, can’t move on their own (Jesus sets us free and isn’t limited by where we ‘take’ Him physically–He is spirit!).
-The Lord carries us from conception to birth to old age and gray hairs!
-Crying out to idols: they cannot answer or save
-Here again, God calls us to remember His faithfulness and reminds us that He WILL fulfill His purposes on earth. His salvation will not be delayed!
Why is there so much discussion about idols in Isaiah? This is a longer discussion, but goes back to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20: 3-4: “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol…” Throughout the OT, we see Israel struggling to obey these “top 2” commandments. Idolatry became a part of their daily worship, and they took them with them as they travelled and were exiled. Isaiah is trying to speak to this issue: God (Yahweh) is the only God, there is none other. Nothing you make or think up can save you. How easy it is to turn to what we can see or feel (or even think would be a ‘fix’) AS IF it offers what we need, which is a right relationship with our loving Father & Creator. No one, no thing can meet that need but Jesus. As we read in Eph 2, He made Himself nothing, humbling Himself even to death on a cross. For me, for YOU!! To be our ONE & ONLY source of salvation! No idols needed here.
Yes! Thank you Jesus!
Yes! Thank you!
I agree SarahMay! I was drawn to the same thing. My heart was shouting yes when it said, “burdens who can’t bear burdens”….so thankful for a God who is able to carry our burdens.
❤️❤️❤️ and Amen to comments above!
21 Declare and present your case;
let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the Lord?
And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
there is none besides me.”
This hit me hard today! There is NO ONE like our God!
I love how both passages today continually point to the glory of God. There is no greater purpose! I recently listened to Tim Keller’s sermon over Philippians 2:1-14 a few times (Imitating the Incarnate) and it is very thought provoking. How we are to have the mind of Christ by having our needs met in & through him, so we can go out and serve others.
12 times within our Isaiah reading did the Lord say: “there is none like me” or some variation of the term. There really is none like him. By no other means are we saved except by his blood, through his name. There is no other
I’m still adoring every bit of Philippians!!!
Did anyone else want to stand up and cheer at the beginning of Philippians 2?
YES!!!!!
Yesssss!!!!
Can I please put in a prayer request for healing? I’m battling interstitial cystitis and am just asking for healing prayers?
Just said a prayer for you Sheena, keep the faith!
Thank you so much!
Prayers Sheena!
Thank you so much Alyssa!
Prayed for you Sheena.
Praying Sheena!!
I keep seeing Isaiah 45:2 everywhere- our God is going before us and making the crooked places straight!!
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
This is a huge challenge for me this week to NOT complain!! To choose the Word of Life instead of grumbling about the little thing that go on through my day, especially at work. Complaining is “running in vain”!
Yes, often times me too! let’s have joyful hearts today, because we are doing the work of God!!!!!!! What an honor!!!!
This is me too right now with my health! I am facing a big health battle right now and I am working hard to not complain but to still be joyful in all things!
I confess h was one to lead out if fear once in my lifetime and just the other day found myself talking to a friend about leading with LOVE – consequences don’t motivate, but seeing potential in others does! Anyone who’s genuinely successful comes from humble beginning.
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
12-13 When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
I love this, God that you would help us live in responsive obedience. In response to your finished work and in response to the Holy Spirit everyday. The rest of this extract reminds me of a quote I read this week…
If you do thinks out of duty it will deplete you, but if you do things out of love, it will energise you. Yes! Just as this passage explains – God’s Deep reserves of energy within us.