[A] bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

Isaiah 42

[A] bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. Isaiah 42:3

This morning, I focus on John Piper's Solid Joys devotional, where Piper seeks for us to be encouraged during periods when we feel our faith is a mere "spark" vs a "flame." Piper starts by stating that "[t]he Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of encouragement...he will not snuff out your spark."  He then provides just a few of the many scriptural examples, besides Isaiah 42:3, where we can gain encouragement during periods of weak faith:

• Luke 4:18
• Malachi 4:2
• Matthew 11:29
• Psalm 27:14
  

This morning, I need more encouragement than usual - thank You Jesus for fanning the flame of my faith!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and and who has given me faith - thank You Jesus!  You also provide the Holy Spirit, the Word, the church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ all to strengthen and build me up in my faith.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of all this!  My sin is great and and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.

Isaiah 1

Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Isaiah 1:4

Today, I started a deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series - which my wife Lisa has strongly recommended. In fact, we are studying this together - starting with each us doing our own daily study during the morning/day, and we convene together in the evening to share our thoughts on the study.  For me, today the key takeaway lies with the last question from the study for day 1, which asks what parallels do we see with current times - my response is that there are many who profess to believe in God today who are no less hypocritical or wicked then Judah was during Isaiah's time.  Isaiah 1 lists out the many sins of Judah, including:

• corruption (v4)
• forsaken the Lord (v4)
• empty spiritual disciplines (v11, 13)
• poor treatment of those in need (v17)
• murderers (v21)
• thieves (v23)

I often feel as if my spiritual disciplines are empty or I poorly treat others (everyone has some degree of need, including the need to hear and see the gospel).  I deserve judgement and condemnation just as much as Judah did in Isaiah's day.  God help me!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who is so good to me...even though I know I am sinful and my sin persists.  You are full of grace for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving.  Please forgive me for my sin...worry, etc. and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please provide wisdom and energy for myself and Lisa. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.

Jeremiah 9

For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart. v25

God is blunt with His judgement of the Israelites - their faith is paper thin and in name only.  They fail to observe the most important commandment by a long shot.

Reading Jeremiah of course is a mirror into our own lives:

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

I must examine and reflect on where in my life I am not loving God with all of my heart, soul and mind and loving others as He loves me.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God, and I know You love me and You died for me so that I would not experience the sting of sin and death and so that I would have everlasting life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Please give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to and apply Your message for me today and every day.