Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene's The Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Things Change, God Doesn’t" by Billy Huddleston - Isaiah 26:1-11
Isaiah 26: On that day this song will be sung in the land of Y’hudah: “We have a strong city! He has built walls and ramparts for our safety.Open the gates! Let the righteous nation enter, a nation that keeps faith!“A person whose desire rests on you you preserve in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.Trust in Adonai forever, because in Yah Adonai, is a Rock of Ages.”For he has humbled those in high places, levelling the lofty city, levelling it to the ground, laying it in the dust.It is trampled underfoot by the feet of the poor, by the footsteps of the needy.The way of the righteous is level; Righteous One, you smooth the path for the righteous.Following the way of your judgments, we put our hope in you. The desire of all our soul is to remember you and your name.My soul desires you at night, my spirit in me seeks you at dawn; for when your judgments are here on earth, the people in the world learn what righteousness is.Even if pity is shown to the wicked, he still doesn’t learn what righteousness is. In a land of uprightness he will still act wrongly and fail to see the majesty of Adonai.Adonai, you raised your hand, but they still didn’t see. Yet with shame they will see your zeal for the people. Yes, fire will destroy your enemies. (Complete Jewish Bible)
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Things change. It seems that nothing lasts forever. Need proof? The evidence is everywhere, every day. Seasons change, bodies age, and there’s simply no stopping the steady march of time. It’s undeniable. This reality should stress the importance of not placing our trust in things. Because they’re temporal. In spite of this, so many look to them to bring happiness–but it never comes. You name it–meaning, security, peace, contentment–many believe that these all come from things. It’s a never-ending cycle that fails to produce the desired result. Why? Because things can’t provide what’s really meaningful in life.
Where does the hunt for happiness, meaning, security, peace, and contentment end? Is it possible in a temporal world to find anything lasting? Isaiah 26:4 reveals that the answer is found in the only One who does not change-God. Because God is eternal.
Isaiah paints a beautiful picture of the promise for those who trust in God. The prophet reminds us that in a changing world, there are some things that are certain: Salvation, righteousness, and perfect peace for those who remain in God, the Rock eternal. In a world of change, stand on this Rock.
Things change. God doesn’t.
Hymn for Today: "How Firm a Foundation" from John Rippon's Selection of Hymns, 1787.
1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
2. "In every condition, in sickness, in health,
in poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,
at home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
as days may demand, shall thy strength ever be."
3. "Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand."
4. "When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress."
5. "When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine."
6. "The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"
Thought for Today: Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father who made the heavenly lights; with him there is neither variation nor darkness caused by turning.(James 1:17).
Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Pakistan.
***
Things change. It seems that nothing lasts forever. Need proof? The evidence is everywhere, every day. Seasons change, bodies age, and there’s simply no stopping the steady march of time. It’s undeniable. This reality should stress the importance of not placing our trust in things. Because they’re temporal. In spite of this, so many look to them to bring happiness–but it never comes. You name it–meaning, security, peace, contentment–many believe that these all come from things. It’s a never-ending cycle that fails to produce the desired result. Why? Because things can’t provide what’s really meaningful in life.
Where does the hunt for happiness, meaning, security, peace, and contentment end? Is it possible in a temporal world to find anything lasting? Isaiah 26:4 reveals that the answer is found in the only One who does not change-God. Because God is eternal.
Isaiah paints a beautiful picture of the promise for those who trust in God. The prophet reminds us that in a changing world, there are some things that are certain: Salvation, righteousness, and perfect peace for those who remain in God, the Rock eternal. In a world of change, stand on this Rock.
Things change. God doesn’t.
Hymn for Today: "How Firm a Foundation" from John Rippon's Selection of Hymns, 1787.
1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
2. "In every condition, in sickness, in health,
in poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,
at home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
as days may demand, shall thy strength ever be."
3. "Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand."
4. "When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress."
5. "When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine."
6. "The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"
Thought for Today: Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father who made the heavenly lights; with him there is neither variation nor darkness caused by turning.(James 1:17).
Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Pakistan.
***
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